You could say the Democrats started this whole mess by failing to pass a budget at the end of last year; a little tidbit I've mentioned several times in the past. They claim they were so extended from fighting off Republican attacks elsewhere that to pass a budget would have only garnered more vitriol attacks from the right, and they didn't want to add anymore flame to the already growing political fire. So basically they didn't pass a budget for political reasons and now the troops are paying the consequences.

<Rant over>