Democrats announce agreement on budget pact

[Pirate Smile]

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON – Congressional Democrats sealed an agreement Monday night on a budget plan that would help President Barack Obama overhaul the health care system but allows his signature tax cut for most workers to expire after next year.

Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad, D-N.D., announced the agreement and key details in a statement.

Most importantly, the congressional budget plan would prevent Senate Republicans from delaying or blocking Obama's plan to vastly expand government-subsidized health care when it advances this fall.

The $3.5 trillion plan for the budget year starting Oct. 1 embraces several of Obama's key goals besides health care reform, including funds for domestic programs and clean energy, and a tax increase for individuals making more than $200,000 a year or couples making more than $250,000.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090428/ap_on_go_co/us_cong... ;_ylt=AoVzA9RJ1M5ukSQwydR3UT.yFz4D

[w4rma]

1. Awesome! (nt)

[Left Coast2020]

2. We need many more win's like this.

It will keep repugs in their corner only to whine and snivel.

[No Elephants]

3. The devil is in the details. We'll see if they find some way to get what they want but not keep

their end of the bargain.

[bemildred]

4. 2010 federal budget blueprint includes most of Obama's major initiatives

When President Barack Obama assesses his first 100 days at a White House news conference Wednesday night, he'll probably have fresh congressional votes endorsing a $3.5 trillion fiscal 2010 budget that includes almost every one of his major initiatives.

The Senate and the House of Representatives are expected to pass it Wednesday. That's the easy part, however, because the congressional budget is only a blueprint, with key details yet to be worked out bill by bill in Congress.

Nevertheless, it's a good start, some analysts said, because it puts Obama and the Democrats in Congress firmly on the record - and committed by congressional votes - to reduce this year's projected $1.7 trillion deficit to $620 billion by 2012 and $523 billion by 2014.

"This is fairly significant, because Congress is setting up its plan for the rest of the year," veteran federal-budget analyst Stan Collender said.

http://www.kansascity.com/444/story/1167624.html