On the Blog: Adhocracy

“Adhocracy.” That’s when the government just kind of wings it, doing its work on the fly. Ad hoc.

When Congress failed to finalize a short-term deal to keep the government open last week, it had to pass an even shorter-term bill. We document it in a post entitled, “Keeping Tabs on Adhocracy.”

Featured Items

Last week, Congress passed, and the president signed, H.R. 2017, the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2012. That bill funds the federal government through Tuesday, October 4th.

Passage of H.R. 2017 will spend about $400 per U.S. family over four days.

This week, the House is expected to approve H.R. 2608, which is also called the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2012. It would spend money to run the federal government through November 18th.

Passage of H.R. 2608 would spend a little over $4,500 per U.S. family.

The 2012 fiscal year began October 1st, but Congress had not passed any of the annual spending bills for the new fiscal year by that time.

H.R. 2017
The Continuing Appropriations Act, 2012
Costs $403.33 per family

H.R. 2608
The Continuing Appropriations Act, 2012
Costs $4,537.44 per family

What People Think

The Continuing Appropriations Act, 2012 17% For, 83% Against Vote on this Bill

The Continuing Appropriations Act, 2012 18% For, 82% Against Vote on this Bill

Displayed below are new, updated, and passed items with their cost or savings per family.

New Items

H.R. 2349
The Veterans’ Benefits Training Improvement Act of 2011
Saves $0.13 per family

H. J. Res. 70
To grant the consent of Congress to an amendment to the compact between the States of Missouri and Illinois providing that bonds issued by the Bi-State Development Agency may mature in not to exceed 40 years
Costs $0.00 per family

H.R. 2838
The Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2011
Costs $222.86 per family

S. 97
The San Francisco Bay Restoration Act
Costs $0.20 per family

H.R. 915
The Jaime Zapata Border Enforcement Security Task Force Act
Costs $0.43 per family

S. 473
The Continuing Chemical Facilities Antiterrorism Security Act of 2011
Costs $2.94 per family

H.R. 1447
The Aviation Security Stakeholder Participation Act of 2011
Costs $0.08 per family

S. 893
The Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program Act of 2011
Costs $0.04 per family

H.R. 1801
The Risk-Based Security Screening for Members of The Armed Forces Act
Costs $0.06 per family

H.R. 2017
The Continuing Appropriations Act, 2012
Costs $403.33 per family

H.R. 585
The Small Business Size Standard Flexibility Act of 2011
Costs $0.05 per family

H.R. 2845
The Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act of 2011
Costs $8.21 per family

H.R. 1165
The Transportation Security Administration Ombudsman Act of 2011
Costs $0.02 per family

H.R. 1263
To amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to provide surviving spouses with certain protections relating to mortgages and mortgage foreclosures
Costs $0.00 per family

H.R. 2074
The Veterans Sexual Assault Prevention Act
Costs $0.01 per family

H.R. 2405
The Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Reauthorization Act of 2011
Costs $68.65 per family

S. 1547
The Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Act of 2011
Costs $22.32 per family

H.R. 2302
To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to notify Congress of conferences sponsored by the Department of Veterans Affairs
Costs $0.00 per family

H.R. 2594
The European Union Emissions Trading Scheme Prohibition Act of 2011
Costs $0.00 per family

S. 1599
The Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2012
Costs $6,947.74 per family

S. 1601
The Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2012
Costs $568.43 per family

S. 1596
The Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2012
Costs $1,182.72 per family

Updated Items

H.R. 2608
The Continuing Appropriations Act, 2012
Costs $4,537.44 per family

Passed Items

P.L. 112-31
A bill to designate the United States courthouse located at 80 Lafayette Street in Jefferson City, Missouri, as the Christopher S. Bond United States Courthouse
Costs $0.00 per family