The battle over the 2011 federal budget that grabbed headlines last week had been brewing for more than a year.
2010
Feb. 1. President Barack Obama submits his proposed $3.8 trillion budget for the 2011 fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1, 2010.
June 21. With Democrats arguing that more federal stimulus spending is needed to stave off a second recession, and Republicans adamant about the need for spending cuts, spring ends without the usual congressional passage of a resolution providing guidelines for revenue and spending calculations – a key part of the budget process.
June 22. Then-House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) signals that with the two parties unable to reach even the most basic agreements on spending, there is unlikely to be a vote on the 2011 budget before the 2010 fiscal year ends Sept. 30.
Sept. 30. With the fiscal year ending and the 2011 budget not yet adopted, Congress passes an extension – known as a continuing resolution – to keep the government running under existing spending levels until Dec. 3.
Nov. 2. On Election Day, Republicans campaigning on a platform that includes making $100 billion in budget cuts win a House majority while Democrats hold on to the Senate.
Dec. 2. Congress, meeting in its lame duck session, passes another continuing resolution to keep the government operating through Dec. 18.
Dec. 16. Stymied in a fight with Republicans over earmarks, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., gives up on an effort to pass a 2011 spending bill by year's end. The following day, Congress passes another brief continuing resolution, funding government operations through Dec. 22, as a three-month extension is prepared.
Dec. 21. The 111th Congress adjourns after passing a continuing resolution set to expire March 4.
2011
Feb. 3. As the 112th Congress gets down to business with a new GOP majority in the House, Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., announces that Republicans will seek a budget for the remainder of the 2011 fiscal year with $35 billion in budget cuts. Tea party-backed Republican freshmen revolt, saying the party should stick by its pledge of $100 billion in cuts, and House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, promises to seek deeper reductions.
Feb. 19. After an emotional all-night session that challenges Republican unity, the House passes a bill calling for $61 billion in cuts for the remainder of the 2011 fiscal year – the amount that would remain to be slashed had a $100 billion cut been applied to the full-year budget.
March 2. Days from the expiration of the Dec. 21 continuing resolution and facing a potential government shutdown, Congress OKs a House-approved resolution extending operations to March 18. As part of a deal between Republicans and Democrats to ensure its approval, it cuts spending by $4 billion.
The same day, Democratic leaders counter the Republican proposal for $61 billion in cuts with a $6.2 billion offer. GOP leaders reject it.
March 16-17. Congress approves yet another continuing resolution extending federal operations through April 8, this time with $6 billion in cuts. Members of the House Tea Party Coalition warn they will not support another extension and push Boehner to stand firm for $61 billion in cuts.
March 30. Vice President Joe Biden says negotiators for the two sides have agreed to $33 billion in cuts, but are still working out the details. Republicans later deny agreeing to the figure.
Last week
Monday. Amid charges that some of the $33 billion in cuts Democrats offer are based on one-time spending that wouldn't result in permanent reductions, Boehner counters with a $40 billion figure. Democrats accuse him of "moving the goal posts." With the prospect that negotiations on a final bill may extend beyond the Friday deadline, House Republicans ready a proposal for another, one-week continuing resolution that would make $12 billion in cuts and fund the military for the remainder of the fiscal year.
Tuesday. In a meeting with Boehner and Reid at the White House aimed at preventing a government shutdown, Obama rejects the idea of another short-term measure. Negotiations on the full-fiscal-year budget also hit turbulence as Senate Democrats object to Republican policy riders that, among other things, would cut funding for Planned Parenthood and hobble an Environmental Protection Agency initiative to regulate greenhouse gases. The meeting concludes without an agreement, but Obama says he will continue calling the GOP and Democratic leaders back to the bargaining table.
Wednesday. Another White House meeting ends inconclusively.
Thursday. With a day to go before a government shutdown, the House approves the Republican short-term extension proposal. Senate Democrats ignore it and Obama promises to veto it should it reach his desk. Late Thursday night, a meeting at the White House between Obama, Boehner and Reid – the second of the day – breaks up with no long-term budget agreement in sight.
Friday. Rumor, intrigue, accusations and counter-accusations swirl throughout the day as Obama and congressional leaders continue to negotiate. Shortly before 11 p.m., Boehner emerges from a meeting with his caucus to announce it has agreed to support a seventh short-term extension, paving the way for a full budget deal this week. A Senate vote approving the extension, followed by a House vote at 12:40 a.m., ends the threat of a government shutdown – for now.
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