WASHINGTON, DC-President Barack Obama’s $3.8 trillion proposed budget has had its debut. Proponents would describe it as creating jobs, while rationalizing spending as much as possible. Opponents would use other terms. Neither, however, actually matters, as no one believes much of anything will happen before the election. Instead, as in the past few years, government operations will be funded via short-term measures.

This is a pity for the commercial real estate industry, Joe Brennan, managing director of government investor services for Jones Lang LaSalle, tells GlobeSt.com. “I think more than anything else right now, people in the industry want certainty,” he says. “Even if it is bad news—i.e., yes this program will be cut and the lease will not roll over—at least people can plan for it. There is no certainty right now at all, and that is very frustrating.”

To be sure, this is true for the entire nation and across all industries. However, the DC area’s commercial estate community is particularly on edge, he says. “The budget has an impact on a lot of landlords in the area,” Brennan says. Consider, for example, the budget for the General Services Administration. Whatever it may be will impact the swing space headquarters staff is occupying as the building is renovated. “Will they stay put, or will they or move,” Brennan wonders. “I don’t have the answer to that. If I did it would be a great piece of intel for the local commercial real estate community.”

There are some areas, however, where Congress can be counted on to act. The so-called Civilian BRAC measure, which recently passed the House of Representatives, should pass the Senate, Brennan says. This measure, which would put in place procedures to determine which government-owned buildings should be put on the market, is favored by both parties. “It is seen as a non-controversial way to bring in revenue,” Brennan says, “so it will pass.”

Another sign of progress—House Republicans have dropped their demands for offsets in the payroll tax extension negotiations. The two-month extension will be up at the end of February and for a while it appeared as though Congress would not be able to break its deadlock. For the commercial real estate community, it means a likely continuation of the payroll tax cut—and thus stronger growth.