In 45 B.C., Julius Caesar created a new calendar for his Empire. The earliest Roman calendars would over time slip out of alignment with the changing of the seasons. And so one of Caesar’s predecessors invented a new month, Mercedonius, to take place once every few years to get Rome back in sync with the movement of the Sun.
But the bonus month still caused misalignment between the calendar and the seasons, and so Caesar decreed that once every four years, February 24 would last for 48 hours. Eventually, timekeepers ditched the supersized February 24 and added a brand new day to the end of February in years divisible by four, which is why this Thursday will be February 29.
While Caesar’s calendar changes are bad news for people unlucky enough to be born on a leap day, congressional leaders should be thanking the Emperor for giving them an extra 24 hours to avoid a government shutdown.
In January, Congress and the White House approved a short-term spending bill that kept some agencies running until March 1 and others until March 8. Since then, congressional appropriators have been haggling over funding and policy proposals in the hopes of finally completing the bills that fund agencies for the fiscal year that started almost half a year ago.
They have made some progress, agreeing to the overall funding levels for each agency. But with only days to go before the March 1 deadline, big disagreements over policy issues remain, making them no doubt glad the leap year gives them a little more breathing room.
Republicans are pressing for provisions on abortion, guns and other hot-button issues that Democrats oppose, making a deal elusive. As a result, Congress may need to pass another short-term spending bill to avoid federal agencies from being shuttered. But such a move will earn House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) further grief from his right flank, namely the Freedom Caucus which has demanded steep spending cuts.
Johnson knows that his predecessor, now-former Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), was booted from the Speaker’s chair last fall for pushing through a short-term spending bill. Recognizing that a similar action could lead to outright revolt, Johnson must feel a little bit like Julius Caesar himself, wondering if his fellow legislators are getting their (metaphorical) daggers ready. After all, the Ides of March are almost upon us.
Speak Up for CRM in Washington!
Regardless of how Congress addresses the current budget stalemate, legislators face big issues that may impact preservation and cultural resource management. CRM firms have a lot at stake when Congress makes policy decisions that impact their bottom line. And there’s no better way to make sure lawmakers hear the industry’s point of view than meeting them in person.
ACRA members have a powerful story to tell policymakers about the importance of cultural resources management. As Congress debates policies that impact the CRM industry, it’s more important than ever to make sure lawmakers hear that story.
That’s why ACRA is holding its annual Capitol Hill Fly-In May 7-8, 2024.
Don’t miss this chance to join your fellow CRM professionals in meeting with your members of Congress to discuss issues important to the industry. ACRA will arrange your meetings and provide training beforehand. There is no cost to register for the Fly-In, but you are responsible for making your travel and lodging accommodations.
ACRA needs time to get your meetings scheduled, so sign up now before it is too late!