Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Update on Continuing Resolution

The House just passed a two-week continuing resolution by a vote of 335-91.  The bill would fund federal government operations through March 18, 2010, while reducing spending by $4 billion.  The bill includes spending reductions for several health-related accounts within the Department of Health and Human Services – all of which relate to funds previously devoted to earmarks.  Specifically, the bill’s text would eliminate earmark accounts included in the 2010 Consolidated Appropriations Act – $20.6 million in earmarks within the Centers for Disease Control, $14.5 million in earmarks within the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, $3.1 million in earmarks within the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services program management account, and $397 million largely from three earmark accounts within the Health Resources and Services Administration.

As press reports indicate, the Senate is expected to take up the measure in the near future.