House Passes Obama's $3.5 Trillion Spending Plan

[steven johnson]

Source: Washington Post

Congressional Democrats overwhelmingly embraced President Obama's ambitious and expensive agenda for the nation this evening, endorsing a $3.5 trillion spending plan that sets the stage for the president to pursue his most far-reaching priorities.

The House voted 233 to 196, along party lines, to approve a streamlined version of Obama's budget request that would trim his spending proposals for the fiscal year that begins in October and curtail his plans to cut taxes. But it would permit work to begin on the central issues of Obama's presidency: an expansion of health care coverage for the uninsured, more money for college loans and a cap-and-trade system to reduce gases that contribute to global warming.

Senate leaders predicted that a similar version of the budget blueprint would win approval in that chamber around midnight.



Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/02/AR2009040203473.html

[Liberal Veteran]

1. Darn, and I was so sure they would go with superior numberless budget.

[pleah]

2. LOL

:rofl:

[liberalmuse]

3. Well, the good news is, it wouldn't have cost us anything.

The bad news is, we'd have been fucked up the arse and sideways with Cheney's cattle prods.

[Barack_America]

4. The Republican "God will provide" budget?

;)

[hootinholler]

5. "Spending Plan" Typical Post Headline.

Bunch of right wing sphincters.

-Hoot

[usregimechange]

6. We will accurately call it an investment plan

[Igel]

9. Perhaps "budget resolution"

would do just fine.

[steven johnson]

7. Highlights of budget plans by Obama, Democrats

Here is a truncated summary of the highlights of the Obama and Democratic Spending plan passed. Go to the original for the complete summary.

SPENDING

Obama: $3.6 trillion in total government outlays, including $1.4 trillion for defense and domestic programs funded through appropriations bills, and $130 billion in new money for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Benefit programs such as Medicare and Social Security, as well as interest payments on the $11 trillion national debt, account for most of the rest.

House: $3.6 trillion, largely tracking the president, except for $125 billion in both 2009 and 2010 sought by Obama for a further financial stabilization. Projects slightly slower growth in spending over the longer term

Senate: $3.5 trillion, and slows spending growth slightly further over the long-term.

TAXES

Obama: Extends President George W. Bush's tax cuts on income and investments, as well as benefits for married couples and people with children — except for individuals making $200,000 a year or couples earning $250,000 a year. Permanently addresses alternative minimum tax (AMT) so more than 20 million taxpayers don't get hit with tax increases averaging $2,000 a year, and extends a $400 "Making Work Pay" tax credit for most workers and $800 for couples after it expires next year.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g8yKWYJUnGtAM-lYDQNRkZjpy38wD97AH25G2

[steven johnson]

8. The GOP "No We Can't" "Audacity of Nope" Budget Goes Down in Flames

The chief Republican budget alternative was defeated 293-137 with 38 Republicans breaking from the party to oppose cuts that they couldn't defend.

The GOP was willing to gut the stimulus package, erode services and give tax breaks to the richest Americans.

The GOP "are there no prisons, are there no work houses?" budget left something to be desired. Like basic human decency, compassion and an understanding of economics.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/03/us/politics/03budget.html?hp

http://www.individual.com/story.php?story=98855677

[NM Independent]

10. From the above NY Times link...

"In the Senate, where lawmakers engaged in their annual “vote-a-rama,” discarding or approving piles of amendments, Democrats easily defeated an alternative offered by Senator John McCain of Arizona and a handful of fellow Republicans that would have essentially frozen federal spending except for the military."

Just imagine if that lunatic had won.

Now, to the Obama haters, can you think of how bad it could have been, and just how good we have it. For goodness sake,

[mzmolly]

11. K and R

:kick: