Capitol Police force can avoid furloughs, for now, despite severe budget mess

U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) will not have to put any officers on
temporary leave because of budget problems exacerbated by Congress’s failure to
approve a yearlong spending measure, according to a police spokeswoman.

Capitol Police told lawmakers earlier this year that they
did not have the money to pay for 2010 salaries and that their request for 2011
would not be enough to pay salaries next year either. The funding shortages had
prompted worries that Capitol Police would have to furlough some officers.

Police now say the spending measure Congress approved
earlier this month to keep the government operating through March 4 will be
enough to prevent furloughs, at least for the time being.

“The continuing resolution provides sufficient funding for
current salary and general expenses requirements of the USCP, including all
required security measures through March 4,” Sgt. Kimberly Schneider said
on Monday.

But Capitol Police could still end up short of cash if
Congress does not provide an appropriation to close the funding gap.

The continuing resolution (CR) approved by Congress keeps the
government funded at fiscal 2010 levels. If Congress approves another
continuing resolution to keep the government operating through the end of
September, but does not include extra money for Capitol Police, furloughs would
be necessary close to Sept. 30, a source said.

The House Appropriations Committee had warned that if the
full-year continuing resolution were not passed, furloughs could be necessary.
The only Capitol Police-related provision in the short-term CR is one allowing
the police to implement an expanded truck inspection program.

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s (D-Fla.) office said Congress
must address the funding deficit in any measure to keep the government
operating after March 4. Wasserman Schultz is the outgoing chairwoman of the Appropriations subcommittee for the legislative branch.

The House had sought to address the budget shortfall in a
full-year continuing resolution it approved in December, but that full-year
spending bill did not win Senate approval.

Capitol Police notified Congress this year that it was $6.8
million short of being able to pay 2010 salaries, and that its 2011 budget
request was $9.4 million short due to financial miscalculations. A special
police inspector general report concluded in July that the shortfall could be
as high as a combined $19.9 million.

In testimony before the House Administration Committee in
July, Capitol Police Inspector General Carl Hoecker said inadequate data
collection and failure to follow standard operating procedures were among the
problems in the Capitol Police budget process.

In the wake of revelations about budgetary problems at the
1,800-officer police corps, budget officer Marie Hughes Brown was put on
administrative leave and ultimately resigned.

Capitol Police chief administrative officer Gloria Jarmon,
who had come under fire from Wasserman Schultz, announced her retirement in
September.