That's what I'm talking about...

That's what I'm talking about...

WASHINGTON - A $2.6 trillion budget outline barely approved by Congress will cut projected spending on Medicaid for the poor, lock in tax cuts and — Republicans claim — put the country on a path toward lower federal deficits.

Democrats unanimously opposed the spending outline passed late Thursday.

Back in the day when I was a young candidate, the Majority Leader of the Washington State House sat me down and explained the facts of partisan life in a legislative body. In essence, there were two votes I would be expected to get in line for. My support for any number of things might be solicited and appreciated, but when push came to shove, if I wanted to be an active member of the Democratic Caucus, I was expected to vote for the leadership package that the Caucus produced and the Democratic version of the state budget.

Similarly, my bottom line for Democrats in Congress is tied to the same two basic propositions. Will the Member vote for Speaker Pelosi or Majority Leader Reid and against funding Bushco's destructionist agenda? If so, they've established their partisan legitimacy, even if they go off-reservation on any number of issues. Of course, in primary elections I'm going to push for liberal alternatives, and in Party councils I'm going to pull for liberal leadership, but a Democrat who's solid on leadership and budget votes is a Democrat who merits general election support.

Harry Reid and his team did the great job we're coming to expect from them. The vote in the House is a tribute to the work of Our Leader and her team, including Minority Whip Steny Hoyer. It's impressive that a Caucus as ideologically diverse as the House Democrats made such a strong statement on behalf of the program and principles of the Democratic Party, and against the destructionist agenda. Every member will end up taking some hits for the vote, with the Republican media shops already scripting the "he voted against defense" and "she voted against education" ads. It's my general belief that to the degree any Member is willing to open themselves up to that kind of attack from the right, they deserve a degree of forbearance when they stray from the pure line of the left on other legislative questions.

Of course, the budget is an atrocity, piling up hundreds of billions in new debt, in no small part because of the continuation and expansion of tax cuts that are sharply skewed to benefit the upper echelons of the economy. Credit where it's due, though. The Republicans did make an effort to reduce the budget deficit through spending restraint, too. So who pays for those tax cuts?

Sick and disabled poor folks do their part, with $10 billion in Medicaid cuts. Rural Republicans will, I'm sure, be proud that they weren't left out of the effort, with agriculture programs losing $3 billion. And just in case you think you're retirement was the only one they're messing with, federal pension programs lose $6.6 billion. At least Paris Hilton's inheritance has been made safe...

It's a mess, and it's all theirs. Kudos to the Congressional D's.