The continuing resolution that is currently funding government operations expires tomorrow night at midnight. And although many are anxious to complete their work and leave for the holidays, Congress has not yet finished the appropriations work they were supposed to complete almost three months ago. Instead, they have spent much of their time on tax and budget reconciliation work, which - unlike appropriations - are not necessary bills for Congress to pass in order to fund government operations.

We have been saying a lot lately that Congressional GOP budget and tax policies look out for the wealthy by providing them with tax cuts, while at the same time hurt the poor by robbing social programs of funding in the name of fiscal responsibility and deficit reduction. While this is true, there is more to the picture. As Josh Lynn and Robert Gordon have recently discussed at Think Progress and in the American Prospect, the latest GOP policies are also responsible for discouraging hard work and self-reliance - two ideals endlessly promoted in conservative rhetoric. Lynn and Gordon write

During a prayer vigil for "moral budget" today in the Capitol Rotunda, 114 people were arrested. The vigil was led by evangelist Jim Wallis of Call to Renewal, and it was one of approximately 63 prayer vigils taking place across the country today. Participants were acting in response to Congressional votes on the budget and tax reconciliation bills.

TIME Magazine reporter Mike Allen writes in this week's edition that any significant tax reform attempts are likely to be postponed until at least 2007. Allen says: Bush aides tell TIME that the President is likely to postpone any big push for comprehensive tax reform--which looked like it would be a centerpiece of next year's agenda--until '07 or '08. In the meantime, he will probably start small by mentioning the issue in the State of the Union and other addresses next year.