Yesterday, the $410 billion omnibus spending measure was delayed, following opposition from Democrats like Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI) and Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN). The Hill reports today that Senate Democrats are “debating” whether Feingold and Bayh should be “punished” for opposing the bill. In particular, some Democrats are angry that the two senators opposed the bill “after legislative priorities important to both lawmakers were included in the package“:
Some Senate Democrats, including members of the Appropriations Committee, are angry that Feingold and Bayh have panned the massive spending bill after legislative priorities important to both lawmakers were included in the package.
One Democratic senator familiar with the discussions said his colleagues are irked that they “bent over backwards” to include provisions important to Feingold and Bayh, only to have both lawmakers slam the omnibus.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) told The Hill that “he did not expect lawmakers who win projects in spending bills to support those bills,” though he also expressed frustration with Bayh. “I have 58 members of the caucus — I don’t run the caucus for Evan Bayh,” said Reid.
Update
In a separate matter, Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) is placing a hold on the appointment of Obama’s leading science advisers due to his objection to Obama’s Cuba policies.
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