AFSCME LEGISLATIVE REPORT

Congress Adopts Obama Budget Plan

May 1, 2009 - Congress celebrated President Obama's first 100 days in office with the adoption of the fiscal year 2010 Budget Resolution, which is mainly based on the Obama budget.  

The House adopted the conference report by a vote of 233-193, with no Republican voting for it and 17 Democratic defections. The Senate approved the budget by a 53-43 vote, with no Republican voting for it and four Democrats opposing it: Evan Bayh (IN), Ben Nelson (FL), Robert C. Byrd (WV), and Arlen Specter (PA), the newly minted Democrat.  

The budget agreement includes "reconciliation" instructions, which would set up congressional action on health care reform later this year without needing 60 votes to break an expected filibuster by Senate Republicans.  House and Senate committees with health care jurisdiction have until Oct. 15 to move on reform.  

Separate instructions were also provided to make changes in student loans by lessening the role of private lenders in the federal student aid program.  

Democrats say they will only use the reconciliation process if bipartisan negotiations break down.  

In addition, the agreement allows the House and Senate Appropriations Committees to increase spending for many vital public service programs.  

The final agreement reduced the spending increase called for by Obama by about $10 billion, but it still allows for an overall increase in spending for domestic priorities.

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