Rep. Don Beyer and other regional members of Congress praise U.S. budget bill

Rep. Don Beyer and other regional members of Congress praise U.S. budget bill

No surprise, the sprawling U.S. budget bill that will fund the federal government through September wasnêt a lay-up to get passed. House Speaker Paul Ryan said that pushing through such a vast bill is no proper way to pass a budget. But clearly, itês better for the Washington region and the country when there is no government shutdown.

Rep. Don Beyer of Virginia, longtime Washington Area dealer and WANADA member, said the budget was –good news for federal employees.” Rep. Gerald Connolly, Donês Virginia colleague, agreed, saying it –spares Northern Virginia from the harmful cuts of sequestration, which has been a drag on our region.”

Regional economists have said that the metro area should try to wean itself from dependence on government jobs. But the number of government-related jobs, such as government contractors, has grown this year, said Deputy Director Terry Clower of George Mason Universityês Center for Regional Analysis.