This post is long, but if it wasn't so tragic, it would be a fun read.
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I was curious about the budget. I knew the President's budget proposal got zero votes of approval in the Senate, but I wondered where the "real" federal budget actually comes from?

The President's budget comes from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), a unit of the Executive office of the President. In 2011 it had 529 employees and a budget of almost $93 million.

OMB used to be the source of the federal budget, which was then submitted for modification and approval by the Congress. Typically, their "adjustments" were increases to their favorite departments and programs. Once approved, it was then up to the Executive Branch, thru the various departments, to spend the budgeted funds.

That's the way it was until 1974, when Richard Nixon refused to spend the bloated amount of money approved in the Congress's re-do of his budget. That's when Congress created the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). Like most government departments, it's grown over the years. In 2011, CBO had a budget of about $47 million and employed 250 people.

CBO assists the House and Senate Budget Committees, and the Congress more generally, by preparing reports and analyses. In accordance with the CBO's mandate to provide objective and impartial analysis, CBO's reports contain no policy recommendations.

So, like so many functions in the federal government, we have two very expensive budgeting organizations at the highest level of the government, both OMB and CBO, with a total cost to the taxpayers of almost $150 million. Wow! Thats a lot of beancounters, isn't it?

So back to the process. Here you go...

• The POTUS is obligated by law to begin the process by submitting his budget to the Congress early every year. OMB puts the budget proposal together for submission by the POTUS to Congress.

• With the assistance of CBO, the House and Senate Budget Committees begin consideration of President's budget proposals in February and March. Other committees with budgetary responsibilities submit requests and estimates to the House and Senate Budget committees during this time. The Budget committees each submit a budget resolution by April 1. The House and Senate each consider those budget resolutions and are expected to pass them, possibly with amendments, by April 15. Budget resolutions specify funding levels for appropriations committees and subcommittees.

• Appropriations committees, starting with allocations in the budget resolution, put together appropriations bills, which may be considered in the House after May 15. Once appropriations committees pass their bills, they are considered by the House and Senate. A conference committee is typically required to resolve differences between House and Senate bills. Once a conference bill has passed both chambers of Congress, it is sent to the President, who may sign the bill or veto. If he signs, the budget becomes law.

So where's the federal budget we apparently haven't had for more than two years? You got me. All I know is that we're paying more than 750 beancounters almost $150 million to put one together for the 535 in the great halls of Congress to approve.

But I guess like a lot of stuff in Washington these days, it's all hung up in Congress. Without a budget agreed to in conference committee and approved by the House, Senate and POTUS, I guess the various appropriations committees put together spending bills without the guidance or constraints of any legally approved budget. Yikes! Talk about the fox in the henhouse!

The budget process has been the law of the land since 1921. A budget is required by law each year. I guess that means that even with $150 million worth of beancounters, the 535 members of Congress have decided to break the law their predecessors put on the books about 90 years ago and simply operate the country without a budget. How else could they spend so much money so quickly?

Does this all make you mad? Ahhh, maybe not as much as other dumb things that happen in Washington, but it's right up there.