yes, yes, the “budget” question.
With no budget, spending goes into a “no budget” mode, which gives enough flexibility to the management hierarchy to keep the billions flowing to the various recipients in the current ratios, instead of getting into political tussles about changing the ratios.
More to EPA ? Less to road contractors ? More to DHS equipment contractors ? Less to TSA contractors ?
Governments love no budgets, no debate, keep it in backroom deals, make executive decisions, have committees decide, etc.
In NJ, “conservative Republican” Governor fatboy Christie happily signed into law a bill that says if local towns (over 500 towns in NJ) do not have to put their school budgets to a vote as long as the total increase in spending is 2% or less, and they’ll still get their share of state-level booty collected from taxpayers. Needless to say, the maximum flat 2% increase is all I’ve seen since. Avoids all that nasty public discourse. It’s for the kids ya know.
One more reason Cristie Cream is a no go.