The truth will be postponed until after the election

First, Foodlinks America reports that key appropriations decisions will be postponed until after the November mid-term elections (see here for free subscription):

Appropriations Decisions Likely to be Postponed

With Congressional leaders eager to adjourn by the end of September in order to return to their districts to campaign, it is appearing increasingly likely that appropriations decisions for fiscal year 2007 will be put off until after the November 7 elections. Up to eight of the 11 bills necessary to fund government programs next year will not be completed before the adjournment.

Congress is expected to pass a stopgap continuing resolution to keep programs going through November. Most of the spending bills – including legislation covering food programs administered by the Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services – will see action during a lame-duck session of Congress scheduled to begin in mid-November. And if Democrats win control of either or both houses of Congress, appropriations decisions will probably be delayed until the start of the 110th Congress in January 2007.

Second, I hear that USDA's annual report on the extent of hunger in America will be postponed until after the election, and that it will replace the word "hunger" with the term "very low food security." No, that wasn't a joke. Is there a pattern here, in which this annual report is published in October most years, but November in certain election years?