The current federal fiscal year is nearly half over and Congress has not yet passed a budget for it. Already, conservatives in the House of Representatives have agreed to one spending authorization extension to avoid a "government shutdown."
Now a second extension is on the table, this one for three weeks - and some House Republicans don't like it. We don't blame them.
A House vote to pass the extension bill passed by a vote of 271-158 - not solidly on party lines. Fifty-four Republicans voted against it, meaning it would not have passed without help from the 85 Democrats who voted in favor.
A few weeks ago, the House approved a spending bill that would cut $100 billion, on an annualized basis, from current spending levels. Democrats, including President Barack Obama, have said they will agree to no more than $10 billion in cuts - in a $3.7 trillion spending plan.
Again, we don't blame some Republicans for having lost all patience with Obama and Democrat leaders. Clearly, they have no intention of working to reduce the deficit.
