THE OLD RUGGED DOUBLE-CROSS….

In short, he reneged on a deal. The budget the president sent last October to the Duma, the lower house of Russia’s parliament, called for spending of about $76.4 billion and revenues of around $55 billion. Not enough spending, complained the Communists and their allies, who voted the budget down and referred it to a "conciliation commission" of executive- and legislative-branch leaders to work out a compromise with the government..

President Yeltsin beat a quick retreat. He threatened to fire First Deputy Prime Ministers