The Senate and House hammered away Thursday at proposed fiscal year 2009 budget resolutions.
The Senate voted for some of President Bush's
tax cuts and against
renewin others. Meanwhile, the House Thursday continued to debate a Democratic proposal.
Democrats in both houses of Congress have
proposed resolutions that would exclude $196 billion in cuts to Medicare and
Medicaid spending, as proposed by President Bush. The resolutions also would
increase spending on many domestic programs by raising taxes in three years -
after Bush's tax cuts expire. The proposals would produce surpluses in a few
years, Democrats say.
The Republicans' plans would seek to balance the budget
through continued tax breaks for married couples, those with children and those
who inherit multi-million dollar estates. These tax breaks likely would come at
the expense of Medicare, Medicaid, nursing home care, housing and community
development, which would all receive substantial cuts in funding.
Presidential hopefuls Sens. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and
Barack Obama (D-IL) and presumptive Republican nominee Sen. John McCain (D-AZ)
were in Washington, D.C., Thursday to vote on the measures.