Foreboding

Noting that 2012 is expected to be "a very political year" in Washington, Rep. Howard "Buck" McKeon (R-CA) predicted this morning that Congress will likely have to adopt another continuing resolution to keep funding the federal government. McKeon, the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said the the difficulty Congress has had over the past few years in agreeing on a budget and passing appropriations bills means another CR can be expected.

McKeon's comments came during his opening remarks at a committee hearing on Defense Department auditing. McKeon pointed out to Pentagon comptroller Robert Hale that he and other GOP members of the committee were wearing buttons indicating that it has been 1,000 days since the Senate has passed an annual federal budget.