A federal budget deal was reached that would avoid another government shutdown because President Obama wasn't involved in the negotiations, Washington Post columnist Bob Woodward said Sunday on Fox Morning News.
The budget bill replaces $65 billion in across-the-board spending cuts that were set for this year and next.
"I think this budget deal worked, quite frankly—let's go right to the center of this—because Obama was not part of the negotiations. He is not a good negotiator," he said.
The longtime Post writer also praised Paul Ryan, the Wisconsin representative and chairman of the budget committee, for his ability to work across party lines.
"The philosophy that he [Paul Ryan] employed here is very significant: sitting down with the Democrats and saying what is our common ground? What can we agree on?"
Woodward claims that Ryan and Boehner's work in gaining more than 300 House votes on the bill strengthens their positions with both parties. The bill now moves to the Senate, which is expected to vote on it next week.
"And it is indeed small, but it’s a step forward. And what it does is it strengthens Ryan, but it also strengthens Boehner in a very, very significant way. He got way over 300 votes for this, and he said I, you know, he castigated the ultra-right wing and the outsiders. And so I think he’s in a position maybe they can deal on some of these things."