Senate Democratic budget extends standoff with GOP

AP ^ | Mar. 23, 2013 2:10 PM ET | By ALAN FRAM, Associated Press

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WASHINGTON (AP) — An exhausted Senate gave pre-dawn approval Saturday to a Democratic $3.7 trillion budget for next year that embraces nearly $1 trillion in tax increases over the coming decade but shelters domestic programs targeted for cuts by House Republicans.

While their victory was by a razor-thin 50-49 vote, it allowed Democrats to tout their priorities. Yet it doesn't resolve the deep differences the two parties have over deficits and the size of government.

Joining all Republicans voting no were four Democrats who face re-election next year in potentially difficult races: Sens. Max Baucus of Montana, Mark Begich of Alaska, Kay Hagan of North Carolina and Mark Pryor of Arkansas. Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., did not vote.

White House spokesman Jay Carney praised the Senate plan, saying in a statement it "will create jobs and cut the deficit in a balanced way."

While calling on both sides to find common ground, Carney did not hold out much hope for compromise with Republicans. The rival budget passed by the GOP-led House cuts social programs too deeply, he said, and fails "to ask for a single dime of deficit reduction from closing tax loopholes for the wealthy and well-connected."

The Senate vote came after lawmakers labored through the night on scores of symbolic amendments, ranging from voicing support for letting states collect taxes on Internet sales to expressing opposition to requiring photo IDs for voters.

Final approval came at around 5 a.m. EDT, capping an extraordinary 20 hours of votes and debate. As the night wore on, virtually all senators remained in the chamber, a rarity during a normal business day. But at that hour, most had nowhere else to go.

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It would also transform the Medicare health care program for seniors into a voucher-like system for future recipients.

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And that would be good!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

The above refers to the Paul Ryan plan which passed the House.

[napscoordinator]

I wish they would just pass a budget. There are two budgets passed. One in the House and one in the Senate. Take both budgets and take the good out of both and pass the dang thing. I don’t know why they have to make it so hard.

[chooseascreennamepat]

“Take both budgets and take the good out of both and pass the dang thing. I don’t know why they have to make it so hard.”

The dems won’t accept anything but their budget PLUS a shi*pot load of dem add-ins.

[sbark]

75 yrs of appeasement and capitulation isnt enough.

The Dem’cat Senate bill has massive taxation (tax the internet hints) and trillions more in spending with billions more to go directly to more Obama Cronnies.

Its time to stand and fight