News-Record.com

Rep. Mickey Michaux, the Senior Budget Chair in the House, argues that House 2437 is not really a continuing resolution, since the business of government could continue without it.

But it does keep programs under continuation review or funded by federal block grants going - which probably feels pretty darned necessary to the folks who work in those programs.

Whatever it is - I like the fun-sized CR moniker - it passed the House and Senate tonight. The bill also keeps automatic raises from going into effect and basically holds the line on government spending until July 15.

"We have reached something of an impasse," Michaux told a hastily called meeting of the House Appropriations Committee Monday night. "These differences are not many but they are of a pretty large nature."

After that meeting, Michaux said that it was time for budget negotiations be moved to the "corner offices," a reference to the House Speaker and President Pro Tempore. This would seem to indicate the negotiators have gone as far as they think they can and need the big dogs to chew through the final few issues. He pointed particularly to funding for the university system.

Here are two audio takes (one and two) from Michaux explaining more.