Posted on 03/14/2008 9:58:28 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON (AFP) - The US Senate on Friday passed a three trillion dollar budget, after a marathon 15-hour debate stretched into the early hours.
The Democratic-controlled chamber voted 51 to 44 in favor of the 2009 spending plan, after the House of Representatives on Thursday passed its own version of the mammoth bill.
The key votes saw Democratic presidential hopefuls, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama and presumptive Republican nominee John McCain make a rare return foray to Washington to cast votes.
"In this time of economic uncertainty, this fiscally responsible budget points our economy in the right direction once again by cutting taxes for the middle class and creating good-paying jobs here in America," said Democratic Senate Majority leader Harry Reid.
"Since President Bush took office, it has been harder each day for middle-class families to make ends meet. This budget will help, and will give more working Americans a real opportunity to succeed in the future."
Bush's Republican allies however accused the Democrats of hiking domestic spending on government programs, and of wasting taxpayers' money.
"Congress must be good stewards of taxpayers' dollars and we should continue to fight for responsible spending levels," said Republican Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell.
The Democratic blueprint would balance the budget by 2009, and is opposed by Bush as it would phase out many of the tax cuts he has introduced, though would preserve some middle class benefits.
It also includes spending on some domestic programs like veterans benefits and energy technology, which the president has tried to cut.
As political jockeying took place over the budget, the Senate on Thursday voted down an attempt by Republican Senator Jim DeMint to impose a one-year moratorium on earmarks -- spending for pet projects inserted by senators into the budget.
The House and Senate budgets now have to be reconciled before they are put to a final vote later this year.
The dems need that money for their socialist agenda.
“The US Senate on Friday passed a three trillion dollar budget”
Just imagine if universal health care is someday included...this number will double...at least.
Gearing up for Hillary’s spending spree.
So true, but I have a feeling that the higher the taxes are raised the less the total revenue the feds will receive and the more that will have to be borrowed.
More Overspending with money we don't have,
No Drilling for oil in Alaska and offshore,
Congress is crazy
“Since President Bush took office, it has been harder each day for middle-class families to make ends meet.”
Lying little bag of feces! The problems started with the seating of the dem-controlled Congress!
The Tax raising variety have been around since day 1 of our country and until the Lord comes, they will still be balancing their greed upon the backs of the poor and their families.
What angers me the most is the Mainstream Press. They are not calling out to every American that their taxes are to be raised. They should be calling out "Single under 75K will see their taxes raised $XXXX and a Family of 2 $YYYYY!"
Boo Hiss on the Dems and their Surrogates in the Mainstream Press.
Please tell me Bush will veto this!
This government is a spending monster out of control.
I heard a report that a couple of Congre$$critters are putting up legislation that we would explore drilling ANWR if the price of a barrel of oil hits 125 bucks a pop.
we know how far that will get.
Whoops. I guess it has to go to conference committee first.
When has Congess ever been good stewards of the taxpayers money, regardless of which party is in power?
OK, so spending on veterans programs and alternative energy is opposed by the President, but spending for AIDs in Africa and the Palestinians isn't?
Jack Kennedy’s first budget was 62 billion dollars...and everyone gasped.
Now it’s three TRILLION dollars.
God save us.
I am still waiting for someone to ask the Hillery and Obama- ‘ “Are you ‘printing’ money to pay for this and doesnt that cause inflation and the dropping dollar value?”
A trillion here, a trillion there, pretty soon you’re talking about real money.
Like Congress, that’s a lot of zeros.
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