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. Because lawmakers have been consumed by reconciliation work, they will be in the Capitol this weekend, trying to wrapping up work on approps. The House will likely vote Saturday on the Defense appropriations conference report, and Sunday on the budget conference report. Meanwhile the Senate is not only considering attaching ANWR language to the Defense bill, but also possibly the entire Labor/HHS measure. Sen. Specter (R-PA), chairman of the Labor-HHS -Education Appropriations Subcommittee, said this move would happen because the measure does not have the votes to pass on its own. Congressional leaders have, unfortunately, let other work - such as superfluous tax cutting and harmful budget cutting - get in the way of their ability to complete appropriations work in a timely and thorough manner.