First up--our president speaks very candidly about the budget deal, and it is good:
"I said, 'You want to repeal health care? Go at it. We'll have that debate. You're not going to be able to do that by nickel-and-diming me in the budget. You think we're stupid?'" recalled the president of his closed-door negotiations on the bill to fund the federal government until September. (listen to the remarks in the video at left)
Mr. Obama said he told House Speaker John Boehner and members of his staff that he'd spent a year and a half getting the sweeping health care legislation passed -- paying "significant political costs" along the way -- and wouldn't let them undo it in a six-month spending bill.
Also, House Democrats decided to have a little fun with a freshman/Tea Party-heavy GOP majority, and decided to simply vote "present" regarding a budget bill to the right of Ryan's. Here's what happened:
