Ryan-Murray Budget Agreement: 'Bad Deal, Dishonest'

Two things happened Tuesday, and both represented victories for Washington and defeats for America.

The smaller defeat was closing the federal government on account of an insignificant dusting of snow. The weather was so mild that no one in Denver or Minneapolis would have noticed it.

Federal employees – who we had been told throughout the shutdown were eager to go to work – suddenly had another paid day off.

I went to an 8 a.m. breakfast next to the White House. The roads were clear (and empty, as everyone stayed home). We had 15 people on time at 8 a.m. There was no snow accumulating at the White House.

Then I drove out to Dulles Airport with no problems. There were 200 people at that meeting. Everyone also made it to our business meeting at work later in the day, and one person even flew in that morning.

So, the private sector kept moving through the light snow, earning the tax money to pay the federal workers who couldn't manage to make their way through the flurries.

Washington had won, and the country would pay for it.

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