BUDGET

How Did We Get Here? Steps That Have Led to a Possible Government Shutdown

Thursday, April 7, 2011 | 2:50 p.m.

There were times during the past year when the appropriations process seemed to be working well; congressional subcommittees and committees passed bills to fund the government for this fiscal year. But looks can be deceiving.

Below is a timeline of milestones on the winding path to a fiscal 2012 budget—or a government shutdown.

APRIL 2011

MARCH 2011

    18: The fifth continuing resolution ends.

    17: The Senate passes the sixth continuing resolution, which funded the government through April 8.

    15: The House passes the sixth continuing resolution, which funded the government through April 8.

    9: The Senate defeats H.R. 1, which passed the House on February 19, and defeated a Democratic amendment to the bill.

    4: The fourth continuing resolution ends.

    2: The Senate passes the fifth continuing resolution, which funded the government through March 18.

    1: The House passes the fifth continuing resolution, which funded the government through March 18.

FEBRUARY 2011

    19: The House passes H.R. 1, a bill to fund the government through September 30, 2011.

    14: President Obama sends his fiscal 2012 budget proposal to Congress.

JANUARY 2011

    25: President Obama delivers his State of the Union speech to Congress.

DECEMBER 2010

    21: The third continuing resolution ends.

    21: The Senate passes the fourth continuing resolution, which funded the government through March 4, 2011.

    21: The House passes the fourth continuing resolution, which funded the government through March 4, 2011.

    18: The second continuing resolution ends.

    17: The Senate passes by unanimous consent the third continuing resolution, which funded the government through December 21.

    17: The House passes by voice vote the third continuing resolution, which funded the government through December 21.

    3: The first continuing resolution ends.

    2: The Senate passes by unanimous consent the second continuing resolution, which funded the government through December 18.

    1: The House passes the second continuing resolution, which funded the government through December 18.

NOVEMBER 2010

    4: Election Day.

SEPTEMBER 2010

    30: The House passes the first continuing resolution to fund the government from October 1 to December 3.

    29: The Senate passes the first continuing resolution to fund the government from October 1 to December 3.

    16: The Senate Appropriations Committee passes its Defense appropriations bill.

    16: The Senate Appropriations Committee passes its Legislative Branch appropriations bill.

JULY 2010

JUNE 2010

    30: House introduces budget resolution.

APRIL 2010

    26: Senate places its budget resolution on the Senate Legislative Calendar, which identifies bills and resolutions awaiting Senate floor action.

FEBRUARY 2010

    1: President Obama sends Congress his budget proposal for fiscal 2011.

JANUARY 2010

    27: President Obama delivers his State of the Union address to Congress.

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