The Democrats all but dared him to take part last year when they sent him their spending wish list. It was a series of appropriations bills that totaled some $4 billion more than anticipated tax revenues, not a budget, as some have characterized it, but an opening gambit. The implicit invitation: "Yes, we know it's out of balance, as was your own budget proposal, but hack away, guv! And when you've decided what and where you want to spend, it'll be our turn."