As mentioned in an earlier post, Congress frequently has to pass 'Continuing Resolutions' to ensure there is legal authority for the Government to spend money after the start of a new fiscal year when the appropriation bills have not been passed in time. (the alternative is a government shutdown on October 1st). Congress hassed passed CRs every year since 1997.Definition on Senate website - Legislation in the form of a joint resolution enacted by Congress, when the new fiscal year is about to begin or has begun, to provide budget authority for Federal agencies and programs to continue in operation until the regular appropriations acts are enacted.
Senator Jim DeMint has proposed legislation (S.2070 - http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:S.2070:) the “Government Shutdown Prevention Act” bill, which if passed would put a CR in place automatically so long as individual appropriations bills remain outstanding. Roll Call comments "That could lift some of the pressure on Members to pass massive omnibus bills that have received little scrutiny."
