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Written by The Analytical Economist<\/a><\/p>\n We reported last week<\/span><\/a> on the disastrous budget deal that made its way through Congress. While we had high hopes for Paul Ryan, maybe we should\u2019ve been suspicious that even Harry Reid supported him<\/span><\/a> for Speaker of the House.<\/span><\/p>\n What we were given was a $2 trillion spending bill that Congress had only two\u00a0days to review.<\/span><\/p>\n It looks like Paul Ryan returned the favor to Reid, and it gets worse \u2014 the two are now forming an alliance. As the Gateway Pundit<\/span><\/a> reported on (quoting The Hill):<\/span><\/p>\n House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) informed his GOP colleagues at a recent closed-door meeting that he had just received a \u201cpromise\u201d from Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid.<\/span><\/p>\n The room \u2014 filled with lawmakers skeptical of Reid\u2019s motives \u2014 erupted in laughter.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI know, I know,\u201d the rookie Speaker replied with a grin, according to lawmakers in the room.<\/span><\/p>\n Fresh off a nearly $2 trillion government-funding and tax-cuts deal, both Ryan and Reid are sounding a rare note of cooperation in the midst of a highly partisan presidential election cycle.<\/span><\/p>\n However, Reid\u2019s pledge to return to regular order on appropriations bills is facing hearty skepticism from congressional Republicans.<\/span><\/p>\n They feel they\u2019ve been burned one too many times by Reid, who repeatedly filibustered House-passed appropriations bills this year and has a reputation for launching broadsides against the GOP from the Senate floor. And they\u2019re not so sure the Nevada Democrat will allow bills to move through the Senate Appropriations Committee to the floor, where after they are approved they could be merged with House-passed legislation.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI personally don\u2019t trust Harry Reid as far as I could throw him,\u201d quipped Rep. John Carter (R-Texas), chairman of the Appropriations subcommittee on Homeland Security.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m extraordinarily skeptical,\u201d added Ryan\u2019s Wisconsin colleague, GOP Rep. Reid Ribble.<\/span><\/p>\n