House, Senate OK $2.6 trillion budgets w/warring views of spending cuts

[Robbien]

WASHINGTON (AP) - Republicans forging a compromise $2.6 trillion budget will have to balance a House plan that exceeds President Bush's planned cuts in Medicaid and other programs against a Senate outline that ignores many of the proposed reductions.

<snip>

The House's budget would cull up to $20 billion from planned Medicaid spending over the next five years, a 1 percent reduction that would more than double what Bush's savings are worth. Overall, it seeks $69 billion in reductions from agriculture, student loans and other benefits, $18 billion more than Bush.

In the Senate, rebellious moderate Republicans joined Democrats in voting 52-48 to eliminate all $14 billion in Medicaid savings that chamber's budget had proposed. Senators also voted to roll back Bush's plans to cut billions of dollars from education, community development, water projects and other programs.

<snip>

Highlighting unease by Republicans in both chambers, the House plan was approved by 218-214, while the Senate's squeaked through on a 51-49 vote. With an 11th-hour amendment nearly doubling the size of the Senate budget's tax cuts, four moderate Republicans voted "no" and Vice President Dick Cheney was on hand in case he was needed to break a tie vote.

http://www.picayuneitem.com/articles/2005/03/18/news/13budget.txt

[hedda_foil]

1. It's all up to the conference committee.

Watch for the Senate side of the committee to be packed with non-moderate Republicans and (if all else fails) Ben Nelson and Joementum for "balance." This budget is gonna come out of conference looking remarkably like the House bill if the repuke leadership and * have anything to do with it.

[Robbien]

3. Yep, and also include the Senate doubled tax cuts for the rich

But I doubt if even Republican-like Lieberman will be invited to join the conference committee. Haven't they excluded all Democrats from all conference committees?

[adigal]

2. So the budget, with ANWR drilling, is going through???

Please tell me I'm wrong!

[MsMagnificent]

4. Bush & Congress "Thanks" American Farmers

In a win for Bush, the Senate did vote against removing $2.8 billion in agriculture savings from the budget.

They served their purpose, getting Bushit elected.
Now... fuggem.

Wonder how much they love their president now? I have no sympathy.