Finishing Up Congressional Business

If I had to bet, I would say everything will be wrapped up in Congress sometime tomorrow.

I had lunch this week with the chief of staff of a high-ranking House member who voted against financial bail-out legislation on Monday. This person indicated that their boss and a few others will likely switch their position on a second vote that should take place on Friday. They felt they had made their point, but that now they thought it was time to do something for the country. I’m expecting they will get the votes to pass the bail-out, and I’m glad.

The price tag is sobering -- $850 billion! It looks like our deficit for fiscal year 2009 may be a trillion dollars. This will dramatically affect all domestic programs, including ours.

Thank heavens we were able to increase the Weatherization Assistance Program and Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, because it will become increasingly more difficult. I still think that the Community Services Block Grant will be increased when Congress conferences the appropriations bills.

However, with the tanking economy and the price tag of reacting to a recessionary economy, money is going to get exceptionally tight in the future.

-- David Bradley, NCAF Executive Director, Washington