The Democrats took control of Congress nearly a year ago with schemes to pump cash into domestic programmes, from low-income housing to cancer research. It hasn't quite gone according to plan. George Bush has waved his veto pen at the Democrats' recent budget proposals, accepting only a fat defence-spending bill. The result has been a stalemate, with the Democrats struggling to come up with a budget that will get past the president's desk, with only a week left before the Christmas recess in which to finish the job.
展开▼
