The Senate last week passed a 2007 budget resolution that excludes major Medicaid and Medicare cuts proposed by President Bush.

Senators approved the $2.8 trillion budget proposal by a 51-49 vote. The resolution excludes $36 billion in Medicare cuts and $5.8 billion in Medicaid cuts proposed by the president over five years. Nursing home and other healthcare leaders have expressed opposition to these spending reductions. The president offered his budget proposal in February.

The House Budget Committee is expected to begin drafting a budget resolution later this month, when Congress returns from a weeklong recess. The House and then Senate then have to reconcile their budget resolutions.