As the House and Senate Appropriations committees churn out bills, President Bush’s veto threats are not the only obstacle to completion of spending legislation before the 2008 fiscal year begins Oct. 1.

There’s also the Senate.

When Republicans controlled Congress, Democrats criticized their management of the appropriations process. But the Democrats are now discovering just how difficult it is to carve out enough floor time to pass spending bills in the Senate.

“It’s a logistical nightmare,” said Senate Majority Whip Richard J. Durbin, D-Ill.

None of the fiscal 2008 bills has been scheduled for floor action yet. Democratic leaders say they hope to move a couple before the August recess. But it remains highly unlikely that the Senate will pass even a majority of the 12 spending bills by Oct. 1, let alone reconcile them with House versions and send them to the president by that date.

Bush’s veto threat increases the likelihood Democrats will send Bush a package of spending bills, known as an omnibus, rather than give him a chance to veto individual spending measures. Democrats could attach veto targets to bills Bush will want to sign, such as the Defense measure or Iraq War supplemental, then dare him to veto the package.