GOP Leaders Remind Colleagues To Keep Their Promises

Remember that letter most House Republicans signed earlier this year promising to uphold President Bush's veto of any spending bill that exceeded his annual budget request.

Neither do those same Republicans, it appears.

With a transportation spending bill on the floor Wednesday and another budget measure on the floor Thursday to fund the departments of Labor and Health and Human Services, Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) reminded those lawmakers of their pledge during a closed-door meeting Wednesday morning, according to members and aides present.

Republicans leaders prevented Democrats from achieving a veto-proof margin on two separate versions of the health and education bill, but only by a vote or two. That bill comes back to the House floor Thursday for a vote to override Bush's veto, and neither side seems to think the outcome will change - or if they do, no one's talking.

And it's worth noting here that Blunt himself often reminds first-time candidates not to make promises on the campaign trail because eventually someone will force you to follow through.