Dems Play Divide & Conquer on Ryan Budget

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will probably bring the House Republican budget plan up for a vote to force Republicans to take a stance on the issue, Democratic Senate aides tell The Hill.

The idea is to divide Republicans among themselves, as moderates facing tough re-election contests next year, such as Sens. Scott Brown of Massachusetts and Olympia Snowe of Maine, may have political difficulty voting in favor of the budget.

Moderate GOP Sen. Susan Collins of Maine already has turned against the budget formulated by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan. "I don't happen to support Congressman Ryan's plan, but at least he had the courage to put forth a plan to significantly reduce the debt," she told WCSH TV in Portland, Maine.