As Congress looks forward to the July 4 recess, it continues to fulfill a primary responsibility — passing legislation that funds the activities of the federal government. Five of 12 FY 2008 spending bills have passed the House and await Senate approval. But President Bush has signaled he intends to veto bills that could push spending above the $933 billion cap specified in his budget request earlier this year.

A fiercely partisan impasse in the House was resolved on June 14 when Appropriations Chair David Obey (D-WI) and Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) reached a comprehensive procedural agreement following months of confusion and vituperation over the chamber's earmarks disclosure and approval process. The agreement outlines rules for consideration of earmarks for the House to follow for each of the 12 FY 2008 appropriations bills and appears to be operating smoothly thus far: on June 21, the House Appropriations Committee approved the lists of earmarks for two spending bills by voice votes.

Congress shifted into full appropriations mode the week of June 4 as both the House and Senate began subcommittee markups of the twelve individual appropriations bills. As the White House and congressional Democrats continue to trade barbs about potential vetoes of spending bills above President Bush's request, the House is scheduled to consider its first four appropriations bills on the floor this week — all of which exceed the president's requested spending levels.