Democrats seek quick pact on budget

[babylonsister]

And Conrad likes it?! This is a good thing!

Democrats seek quick pact on budget

By ANDREW TAYLOR


WASHINGTON (AP) -- Congressional Democrats pushed to wrap up negotiations on a budget plan that would help President Barack Obama's ambitious goal of overhauling the health care system.

Negotiators from the House and Senate met Monday, and Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad, D-N.D., confirmed details of a tentative pact reached last week that would prevent Senate Republicans from delaying or blocking Obama's plan to vastly expand government-subsidized health care.

The $3.5 trillion plan for the budget year starting Oct. 1 embraces several of Obama's key goals, including health care reform, funds for domestic programs and clean energy, and a tax increase for individuals making more than $200,000 a year or couples making more than $250,000.

But the plan would allow Obama's signature $400 tax cut for most workers to expire at the end of next year. Even after squeezing the defense and war budgets to levels that are probably unrealistic, the plan would cause a deficit of $523 billion in five years.

"I think this is a good budget," Conrad said. But, he added, "Much more will have to be done to get us on a more sustainable course," including slowing the growth of benefit programs like Medicare and overhauling the tax code.

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