It's almost Memorial Day, as the month of May is getting away without much in the way of progress on the federal budget for next year, or on an agreement to raise the nation's debt ceiling.
When Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said last month that Uncle Sam had enough wiggle room to get into early August without a financial default, Congress knew there was no reason to worry about a deal on the debt ceiling until at least late July.
That's the way Congress works.
The best way to get lamwakers to do something is to have a deadline, like a major holiday, or a government shutdown, something to get them in the mode of playing Let's Make A Deal.
But since Geithner put on the brakes, what have we seen?
The Gang of Six has become the Group of Five with the negotiation "sabbatical" of Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK). Yes, the other five Senators say they'll keep trying to cut a budget deal, but they're not really expected to produce an agreement anytime soon.
Democrats in the Senate last week made clear they would not press ahead with a "budget resolution," a framework for next year's budget - in fact - Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said it would be "foolish" for the Democrats to bring up any budget right now.
Really, that's what he said.
Instead, they're going to wait and see if the Group of Five can produce anything, or if there is a breakthrough in talks being led by Vice President Biden.
The Biden discussions have a goal of wrapping up by the end of June - so there's no rush there either.
This week, the Senate is expected to battle over the budget, but in a very regimented way.
Just like last week when Senate Democrats allowed procedural votes on a plan from each party related to high energy prices, this week may bring wrangling by Democrats to force a vote on the budget plan from Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), an effort to put Republicans on the record about major Medicare reforms envisioned by Ryan and House Republicans.
In other words, there won't be amendments on what the budget should look like, but a more political debate in which both sides can accuse the other of a variety of budgetary misdeeds.
On Monday, Republicans objected to such a plan, as Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) blasted Democrats for trying to set up a political debate; Democrats said Sessions and other Republicans were just running as fast as they can away from the Ryan budget and its Medicare changes.
Meanwhile, the House continues to take baby steps on next year's budget, as the first two spending bills for next year will go before the House Appropriations Committee this week, dealing with Homeland Security and Military Construction/Veterans spending.
Initial committee work will begin this week as well on a bill that deals with spending for Agriculture, food stamps and Food and Drug Administration programs.
Those bills are part of the House GOP roadmap that would cut $30 billion from the budget next year - as we have reported - that is far, far short of what is needed to eliminate a deficit that could run as high as $1.5 trillion this year.
So while you listen to all the rhetoric this week on the budget, sit back in your seat and realize that Congress is not on the verge of finishing their budget work anytime soon.
This place runs on brinksmanship. And right now, there's nothing that will force action by lawmakers.
