It's certainly not surprising that Sherrod Brown's perspectives on budget management have evolved since he was first elected to the U.S. Senate. Sherrod Brown ran for the Senate in 2006 in support of a Republican federal balanced budget amendment, in December he voted against it. Sherrod once promised the president's budget would cut our deficit in half by the end of his first term - now, not so much. 

But what caught our eye today is Sherrod Brown's apparent change of attitude on the importance of simply passing a budget.  To Brown, the fact that Senate Democrats have failed to pass a budget in 1,020 days isn't "all that meaningful."

SHOT:  In 2006, Sherrod Brown Said Republicans' Failure To Pass A Budget Was An "Important Story."

"Asked about the GOP statements, Brown said the more important story last week was the GOP's failure to pass a budget because of objections from Republican moderates who feel that GOP leaders want to cut spending too severely. He complained that Republicans are trying to bait journalists into focusing only on tax cuts, instead of examining how tax cuts have contributed to spending cuts on education, veterans' benefits and home heating programs." (Elizabeth Auster, "Taxes Are A Hot Issue, Any Way You Frame It," Plain Dealer [Cleveland, OH], 5/14/06)

CHASER: Just This Past Weekend, Sherrod Brown Told Majic 105.7 In Cleveland That Passing A Budget Is Not "All That Meaningful"

Host: "Does it bother you that we've gone 1,000 days without a budget?"

Sherrod Brown: "Uh, no. Because we have we because in the Budget Act we did, the budget is not even signed by the President. It's a good talking point for Republicans. But the fact is that we've had a Budget Act where where we have that plan set out. The budget's only for a year or two. The Budget Act is for 5 and 10 years down the road. So I think that's a good sound bite to use but I don't think it's all that meaningful."

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The Ohio Republican Party released the following statement on Sherrod Brown's newfound fiscal positions:

"Not only has Sherrod Brown changed his tune on the federal balanced budget amendment and the president's ability to reduce the deficit, he also now believes that failing to pass a federal budget is no longer meaningful," said Ohio Republican Party Chairman Kevin DeWine.

"Sherrod Brown and Barack Obama's failure to adhere to a budget has fueled their insatiable appetite for increased spending and reinforced the notions of Ohio families and small businesses that Democrats cannot be trusted with our tax dollars."