Important reminder of how things get done in politics: Don't allow transparency, it's easier to vot when no-one knows what the vote is over. Package hundreds of spending items together, can't have debate over each one. Say it's not practical, cover up that what you mean is that it's not expedient. Let everyone point to their favorite measures and distance themselves from others. Make sure many members of congress have input as cover for the real origin of the major spending items being a few interest groups who have members on both sides of the isle in their pocket. And the list goes on. . The icing on the cake is the main stream media's coverage: Government needs a budget. How else can they get that in place? Nothing to see here.