Only because the plan was opposed on equally political grounds. The idea was a welcomed one by the people who voted for the politicians in favor of it, and not welcomed by the ones they didn't vote for, so the points went where they belonged.
If it was so certain that they had no intention of going through with it, why not call their bluff and turn the responsibility for killing it back on them?
If it was so certain that they had no intention of going through with it, why not call their bluff and turn the responsibility for killing it back on them?