I would not have figured Gordon Smith to be one to stand up to his party and the President. Perhaps the teachings of his predecessors Mark Hatfield and Bob Packwood have rubbed off on him. CQ Today's Midday Update (free email service) reports:

Despite indications that the administration is on the verge of a deal with Sen. Gordon H. Smith, R-Ore., on Medicaid cuts, budget negotiators still must resolve a series of tough issues if they hope to produce a conference report before the Senate departs for a one-week recess April 29.

It appears that Smith has won agreement from the administration to appoint a commission to study how to implement the Medicaid cuts that would be assumed as part of a final budget resolution’s reconciliation instructions to the Senate Finance Committee.

According to a Senate GOP source, the Medicaid savings number would be below the $12 billion sought by Senate Budget Chairman Judd Gregg, R-N.H. The full Senate voted against making any cuts in Medicaid this year.

Budget writers hope that a Medicaid deal will pave the way for an overall budget deal, but it remains unclear whether they can find enough savings in other programs to secure the $40 billion to $45 billion in mandatory savings they have been discussing.

Even though it is commendable that Smith is standing up to Bush on Medicaid cuts, wouldn't it be something if the Republicans actually considered cuts for the wealthy (slowing tax cuts for the extremely rich) instead of cuts for the poor?