WASHINGTON — The Senate on Thursday narrowly approved the first cuts since 1997 to benefit programs such as Medicare (search), Medicaid (search) and farm subsidies, giving Republicans a symbolic victory against ever-rising government spending. The bill, passed by a 52-47 vote, would make modest cuts to the health care programs for the elderly, poor and disabled, but leave the food stamp program untouched. The measure also would permit exploratory oil drilling in an Alaskan wilderness (search) area. The spending battle now heads to the House, where Republicans are divided over whether to cut more deeply across a broader range of...
