Senate narrowly passes first budget in four years in pre-dawn vote

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/mar/23/senate-passes-budget-democrat-opposition

The US Senate on Saturday narrowly passed its first federal budget in four years, a move that will usher in a relative lull in Washington's fiscal wars until an anticipated summer showdown over raising the debt ceiling.

The budget plan was passed by a 50-49 vote in the Democratic-controlled chamber. Four Democratic senators facing tough re-election campaigns in 2014 joined all the SenateRepublicans in opposing the measure, which seeks to raise nearly $1tn in new tax revenues by closing some tax breaks for the wealthy.

The Senate budget, which reflects Democratic priorities of boosting near-term job growth and preserving social safety net programs, will square off in coming months against a Republican-focused budget passed by the Republican-dominated House of Representatives.

i say again politicians that choose to not help the people or the country because of fear of not being re-elected, to what the same denial to the people next time controversial legislation comes up, if so we don't need him he's here for thr free ride and the perks.

until they are ready to sacrafice re-election in order to do one thing right, they should be deied like they will deny you. 2014!!

Neither of the non-binding blueprints has a chance of passage in the opposing chamber, leaving Congress no closer to resolving deep differences over how to shrink US deficits and grow the economy. But they give each party a platform from which to tout their respective fiscal visions.

The Democrats' plan, from Senate Budget Committee chairman Patty Murray, aims to reduce deficits by $1.85tn over 10 years through an equal mix of tax increases and spending cuts. The Republican plan, from House Budget Committee chairman Paul Ryan, seeks $4.6tn in savings over the same period without raising new taxes. It aims to reach a small surplus by 2023 through deep cuts to health care and social programs that aid the poor.

i have one significant question, who is really kicking the can down the road? the Pres. has said he is willing and has bent over backwards but the rich people rights rule the day, and the taxes and loopholes remain but by who's intent, not the progressives. 2014!!