Doing a bit of research into mandatory spending, I came across this GAO document, which contains this bit: Among mandatory spending programs...the health area is especially important because the long-term fiscal challenge is largely a health care challenge. Contrary to public perceptions, health care is the biggest driver of the long-term fiscal challenge. This cannot be said enough: health care is the biggest driver of the long-term fiscal challenge.

In one of the more common-sense moves of the 110th Congress, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Subcommittee on Government Management, Organization, and Procurement unanimously approved a bill yesterday to prevent companies who owe federal taxes from being considered for government contracts. The bill (H.R. 1870) would target companies that owe at least $2,500 and have not paid the IRS or started a payment plan within 180 days of getting an assessment. During the mark-up, the bill's sponsor and subcommittee chairman Rep. Edolphus Towns (D-NY) offered an amendment that would help assuage concerns expressed by the Bush administration during hearings on the bill. The amendment would change the bill to incorporate the tax deliquency provisions into the regular contracting process. This change would still bar companies who owed taxes from receiving new contracts from the government, but would grant those companies due-process rights and opportunities to contest the government decision to bar them. Seems fair enough. The bill moves now to the full House Oversight and Government Reform committee, where it may encounter opposition ($) from ranking member Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA), who apparently thinks it's alright for companies not to pay taxes.

The Senate reached a consent agreement today on motions to instruct conferees to the budget resolution. House-Senate negotiators on the FY 2008 budget resolution have begun debating and voting on motions, and the Senate has completed the procedural steps needed to appoint its conferees on the measure.

Just so there's no confusion, here are details and status for H.R. 2206 and 2207, the two post-veto Supplemental bills emerging from the House, both facing likely votes this week and potential presidential vetoes thereafter:

• H.R. 2206, "The U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007." Introduced by Rep. David Obey (D-WI), expected to be voted on as early as tomorrow; the president promised today to veto this bill.