Today's summit meeting on the FY 2008 budget process between President Bush and Congressional leaders has broken and, it's safe to say, the budget process for the year remains as broken as ever. Neither side retreated from its discretionary spending targets and the President showed no sign of backing away from any of his veto threats, leaving open the possibility of a budget showdown or even government shutdown later this year.

This morning, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee unanimously approved Jim Nussle's nomination to serve as OMB Director. As of this hour, the Senate Budget Committee is still wrestling with whether to hold its vote in the next couple of days or, say "see in you in September." Word is expected later today, after the Congressional-White House "fiscal summit."

Yesterday, the House voted overwhelmingly (411-8) to pass the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007 -- a new set of lobbying and ethics reforms of broad and, in some instances, unprecedented scope. Never before has Congress sought to require earmarks disclosure by law, for example. OMB Watch has commented frequently on this bill, most recently here, here, and here. And today, OMB Watch issued a press release urging final passage and further reforms down the road.

OMB Watch has put out letters urging support for the SCHIP expansion bills now moving in the House and Senate.

• Senate letter
• House letter

The Senate bill will probably get a vote either today or tomorrow, while the House will probably vote either tomorrow or Thursday.