evidence: For the better part of three decades, lawmakers have been unable to use 12 "regular order" appropriations bills to enact federal spending. Instead, Congress has lurched regularly from temporary bills to massive "omnibus" measures. In congressional terminology, a "continuing resolution" refers to a short-term spending bill at existing funding levels. An "omnibus spending bill" is one that extends most or all of government funding, rather than being passed in 12 separate bills that each cover a limited range of federal departments. Blaming the nation’s debt on the lack of following standard appropriations procedures is an exaggeration. Only about one-quarter of federal spending is approved through the annual appropriations process; about three-quarters of spending runs on autopilot, including entitlements and interest payments.