As expected, the Senate on Wednesday rejected budget cutting plans from both Democrats and Republicans, leaving eight days to figure out a way forward before the next government shutdown deadline.
Republicans for the most part stuck together on a $61 billion package of budget cuts approved by the House last month, as they mustered 44 votes for that plan.
Democrats - even with a majority of Senators - only had 42 votes for their package of $4.7 billion in cuts for the rest of this fiscal year.
11 Democrats and 3 Republicans voted against both plans - the GOP Senators did so because they wanted more cuts - many of the Democrats because they wanted something that splits the difference.
"Really, the sweet spot is somewhere in between these two approaches," said Sen. Clare McCaskill (D-MO).
The fact that Democrats only had 42 votes for their plan was a bit of a surprise, as Bennet (CO), Hagen (NC), Kohn (WI), Levin (MI), Manchin (WV), McCaskill (MO), Nelson (NE), Nelson (FL), Sanders (I-VT), Udall (CO) and Webb (VA) voted against both budgets.
Three GOP Senators were 'No' votes on both bills - Lee of Utah, Paul of Kentucky and DeMint of South Carolina - as Republicans stuck to their message.
"We cannot continue to spend money we don't have," said Sen. John Thune (R-ND).
So - what now?
There are eight days until a temporary budget plan runs out on March 18. The chances of a deal through the end of this fiscal year before then is most likely a long shot.
That likely means another short term budget, which like the current one, would have $2 billion in cutbacks for each week.
The word in the halls of the Capitol is that Republicans will release that plan on Friday.
A two week budget would get us to April 1. The problem with that is the House will be gone the first of those two weeks, meaning that a two week stop gap budget will probably mean another right after it.
This is a game of chicken that should really start to get interesting in the month of April.
Who blinks first? Who gives a little? Who offers a deal? Will the White House offer a plan?
Stay tuned.
