Updated at bottom

The following is a question I received, which I thought I would answer on the Blog:

Greg, as the expiration for the 1603 grant gets closer, two questions? 1) what are the chances of the grant being extended and 2) what are the modifications to the 1603 that you see coming January 1 2011.
Tony

Tony –

Thanks for your message.  My best take is that the election has made it more difficult for 1603 to be extended.  The Rs in Congress have not been very supportive of 1603.  That doesn’t doom it, but it won’t be easy.  Of course, if it’s not extended, there won’t be any modifications.  The good news (if you can call it that) is that the pressure for modifications was coming from House Ds.  Since they are on their way out of power, there is a lower chance of the modifications passing.

Take all of this with a grain of salt.  In truth, no one knows for sure what will happen, including folks I talk with on the Hill.  Stay tuned.

Greg

And Jane asks:

Is it possible that the 1603 grant would get retroactively extended next year, contingent on certain possible modifications to the current program structure?

Jane –

The answer is yes, it is possible.  It is also possible that we will see a straight extension (no modifications).    Or nothing.  At this point, no one really knows (and anyone who tells you they do is making it up).

Greg