So the budget battle of 2006 will end with a whimper, not a bang. The new Democratic leadership wants to (CQ, $) extend the continuing resolution for the entire 2007 fiscal year, with some adjustments. Though not ideal, it's probably the best of all available options. It will:

• Impose a "moratorium" on earmarks, which could put the next Congress on a path toward more earmark reforms
• Remove a distraction for the new Congress, giving it more time to focus on an ambitious 100-hour agenda
• And let the new Congress make "adjustments" to funding formulas to avoid cuts in key services

The CR's unusual format does raise a few questions, though.

• What qualifies as an earmark under the "moratorium"?
• Will the "moratorium" be applied retroactively or prospectively? What will its fiscal impact be?
• And which "adjustments," which presumably won't qualify as earmarks, will be made?

We'll probably have to wait until January for the answers.