Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR) walked away from negotiations on the congressional budget resolution last night moments before a final deal was struck. Smith, a key senator in the negotiations because of his successful amendment protecting Medicaid funding during the Senate debate, has said he will not vote for the final budget. This development will likely delay floor consideration of the budget this week and could doom the legislation altogether. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) and Budget Committee Chairman Judd Gregg (R-NH) will have a very difficult time passing the budget without Smith's support. Smith's amendment to protect funding for the low-income health care program on the Senate floor passed with the support of five other Republicans. Because the Senate passed the budget resolution by only two votes, those Republican Senators become the key to passing the final resolution. The position of some of those Senators on final passage is still unclear. As the Washington Post editorializes this morning, this may be the best thing for the country in the end.