Swoosh

The giant swooshing sound you heard was Congress leaving town. It's out of session until after the November national election. Before adjournment, the Senate passed a $500 billion continuing resolution bill, following House passage of its version. Once the president signs the CR, the government will be assured of no shutdown on Sept. 30. But Congress left undone passage of a farm bill that covers many federal food and nutrition programs, and it has yet to find an alternative to sequestration, which will automatically cut budgets in January. Expect a lot of honking from the lame duck session.