December is usually a pretty stressful time in Washington. For years, Congress has spent the last few days before its Christmas recess scrambling to pass some kind of spending bill that will prevent a federal government shutdown. But for once, the halls of the Capitol will be quiet — a little too quiet.
That's because this year Congress decided to punt on most of its to-do list until the new year. In doing so, lawmakers saved their precious vacation time and, in the eyes of some conservatives, prevented another mad dash to spend money on the way out the door. But let's be real: All they've done is merely delay that dash. What awaits Congress after the holidays is a very, very stressful return to reality.
