Key Senate panel backs Obama's budget blueprint (AP)

[jefferson_dem]

Key Senate panel backs Obama's budget blueprint
By ANDREW TAYLOR, Associated Press Writer Andrew Taylor, Associated Press Writer – 25 mins ago

WASHINGTON – A key Senate panel stacked with allies of President Barack Obama approved his ambitious budget blueprint Thursday, giving the president a symbolic endorsement of efforts to boost clean energy, fight global warming and improve access to health care.

Senate Budget Committee approval by a party-line vote sets the stage for floor debate next week, where moderate Democrats unhappy with deficits wield more influence. The Senate measure is a nonbinding road map for major legislation later this year on health care, energy and education.

But general agreements on fighting global warming and boosting health care promise to be severely tested later in the year as details are penciled in.

The Senate plan and its House counterpart will both go to the floors of their respective chambers next week over passionate protests from Republicans, who warn of big spending increases and record deficits.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., armed with a comfortable 58-41 Senate majority, said a handful of Democrats will oppose the budget plan next week but that "I feel very comfortable that we're going to be able to pass the budget."

Unlike regular legislation, the annual budget resolution — which doesn't get signed by the president — can advance with a simple majority vote.

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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090327/ap_on_go_co/congress_budget

[Beetwasher]

1. "Stacked with allies...."

Was that ever uttered once during the Bush regime when Repub lapdogw controlled congress?

[Hope And Change]

2. Good to hear.K & R

[Kdillard]

3. Whatever as to the first sentence of the article. I am glad Obama's

budget is moving forward.