Not a single Republican supported the budget, capping a long public-relations war against the plan. “Over bipartisan opposition, Democrats in Congress passed a budget that clears the way for massive amounts of spending, for the biggest tax hike in history and a doubling of our already crippling national debt," said Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).
Washington Post reports of a few wrinkles that still need ironing out.
The measures now move to a conference committee where negotiators must resolve differences between the two chambers, a prelude to the more difficult choices that will be required to implement Obama's initiatives. While Democrats back the president's vision for transforming huge sectors of the economy, they remain fiercely divided over the details.
There is no agreement, for example, on how to pay for an overhaul of the health-care system expected to add more than $1 trillion to the budget over the next decade, nor is there consensus on how to spend the hundreds of billions of dollars the government stands to collect by setting limits on greenhouse gas emissions and forcing industry to buy permits to pollute. Those issues will be decided in committees where lawmakers have begun the torturous work on the specifics of Obama's broad plans.
The Hill piece, linked above, shows Senate Budget Committee member Judd Gregg's comments
"The practical implications of this budget are that we will put in place spending and borrowing which will absolutely put this country on an unsustainable path and WILL create massive problems for us in the out years if it's followed."
Now would be the day to remind you to look up your area's Tax Day Tea Party and join in with protesting this massive spending and the largest tax hike ever. Over 300 cities are involved in this protest, all across the country and it is still growing.
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