Many eyes are focused on Washington DC as the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives try to wrap up a "lame duck" session before recessing for the Christmas holidays. The Republican Party will be taking over the majority of the House of Representatives with the start of the 118th Congress on January 2nd, 2023.
What will happen with the funding of the Federal Government for the balance of the 2023 fiscal year? Currently, the Federal government funding authorization expires tomorrow. Now it appears that a short-term, one-week extension will extend the deadline to December 23rd so that rest of the Federal fiscal year spending details can be finalized.
Hopefully, the National Defense Authorization Act of 2023 ("NDAA") will be approved in the meantime. Rumor has it that legislation has a few items that might affect the world, like the fighting currently ongoing in Ukraine, and overall American military preparedness. If and when it passes and is signed into law, Lars Toomre might have a bit more to share.
As we wait for the "proverbial paint" to dry on the Congressional work product, enjoy with me a sunset image of the BNSF railroad bridge over the Mississippi River at Fort Madison, Iowa. This old Santa Fe Railroad, private swing bridge allows so many trains to cross the mighty Mississippi River. Lars would suggest that the scenery is much more interesting than watching the U.S. Senate via C-SPAN make "proverbial sausage."