It Would Be Nice If the Appropriations Bill Came Apart over Principle--but It Failed over Pork
House Democrats Pull Budget Offer
The GOP Is Negotiating In Bad Faith, Obey Says
By Jonathan Weisman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, December 11, 2007; A03
A Democratic deal to give President Bush some war funding in exchange for additional domestic spending appeared to collapse last night after House Appropriations Committee Chairman David R. Obey (D-Wis.) accused Republicans of bargaining in bad faith.
. . . "Absent a Republican willingness to sit down and work out a reasonable compromise, I think we ought to end the game and go to the president's numbers," Obey said. "I was willing to listen to the argument that we ought to at least add more for Afghanistan, but when the White House refuses to compromise, when the White House continues to stick it in our eye, I say to hell with it."
. . . "There are a lot of people who were very disappointed last year when nobody got any earmarks. If they do it again for the second year in a row, it will be a very bitter pill to swallow," said Rep. …