War Funding Showdown: Bush Wins Again

Congressional Democrats are pouty this morning:

White House spokesman Tony Fratto emphasized last night, "The White House is not part of any deal, full stop."

The veto threats in the face of Democratic compromises left party lawmakers in disbelief. Because of Bush's intransigence, Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) said that "we're going to have some horrific decisions to make over the next week."

Democratic leaders Reid and Pelosi have agreed not to exceed President Bush's budget limits in the megasized spending bill under consideration, although they (weakly, and in a mother-may-I tone-of-voice) vowed to assign the funds to favor Democrats' priorities. The president was quick to point out that he has no shortage of VETO stamps.

Meanwhile, the theater continues on the spending bill. The House version will contain no funds for Iraq; Pelosi refuses to vote for it. That money will be added in the Senate version and in conference. As per the president's instructions, it will contain no retreat provisions.

Related: Senate Republicans Block New Taxes for Corporations.

Senate Republicans blocked a broad energy bill Thursday because it included billions of dollars in new taxes on the biggest oil companies.

Democratic leaders fell one vote short, 59-40, in getting the 60 votes needed to overcome a GOP filibuster. Democrats said they would strip the taxes from the legislation to move the bill forward.

Democrats rolled out a report yesterday purporting to show that taxing oil companies will not increase prices for consumers. That sound you heard at about 4pm Eastern was every economist in the world simultaneously rolling their eyes.

Finally: As Dave at GR told me would happen the last time I posted about the spending bill, Congress has turned to a third CR to buy more time. Moron-commenter someone thinks that Democrats have pulled a fast one. See his link in the comments.

posted by Gabriel Malor at 12:20 PM

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