Friday, April 03, 2009
This Week in Washington - 4/3/09
The House and Senate have adopted separate versions of a budget resolution, so the next step in the budget process will be for a conference committee to resolve the differences in a final resolution.
THE BUDGET RESOLUTION IS MOVING TO THE NEXT STAGE
Both the House and Senate adopted their versions of the budget resolution on Thursday. The House resolution was adopted by a vote of 233-196. The Senate resolution was adopted by a vote of 55 to 43. Ohio’s delegation voted along straight party lines, with the Democrats voting “Yea” and the Republicans saying “Nay”.
The budget resolutions adopted by the House and Senate both promote a balanced approach to budgeting that will support the President’s key initiatives – reforming health care, addressing climate change, and strengthening education -- while taking important steps to strengthen the economy and restore long-term fiscal stability.
The Senate considered a number of difficult amendments. Fortunately, efforts to further reduce discretionary funding below the cuts made in Committee were defeated. However, the Lincoln-Kyl amendment in favor of cutting the estate tax below the 2009 parameters for very wealthy estates was adopted by a vote of 51-48. Despite our efforts, Senator Voinovich votes for this amendment. While this is very disappointing, the defeat was a very narrow one, which will be important when actual estate tax reform legislation moves in the next 12 months.
The Senate also agreed to a second estate tax amendment offered by Senator Durbin that creates a 60-vote point of order against putting the wealthy ahead of the middle class. That vote was 56 to 43 and essentially a “cover” vote for those who didn’t want to be seen putting the wealthy first. It was supported by some of the same Senators who voted for the Lincoln-Kyl amendment (but not by Senator Voinovich). Since the House budget resolution did not include a counterpart to the Lincoln-Kyl amendment, we will work to ensure that it is dropped in conference.
NEXT STEPS ON THE BUDGET RESOLUTION
Our main priorities for conference will be to preserve non-defense discretionary funding and revenue levels, and ensure that the budget resolution will facilitate consideration of key policies including health reform. As more analysis of the final House and Senate resolutions becomes available, we’ll distribute it to advocates.
THE BUDGET RESOLUTION IS MOVING TO THE NEXT STAGE
Both the House and Senate adopted their versions of the budget resolution on Thursday. The House resolution was adopted by a vote of 233-196. The Senate resolution was adopted by a vote of 55 to 43. Ohio’s delegation voted along straight party lines, with the Democrats voting “Yea” and the Republicans saying “Nay”.
The budget resolutions adopted by the House and Senate both promote a balanced approach to budgeting that will support the President’s key initiatives – reforming health care, addressing climate change, and strengthening education -- while taking important steps to strengthen the economy and restore long-term fiscal stability.
The Senate considered a number of difficult amendments. Fortunately, efforts to further reduce discretionary funding below the cuts made in Committee were defeated. However, the Lincoln-Kyl amendment in favor of cutting the estate tax below the 2009 parameters for very wealthy estates was adopted by a vote of 51-48. Despite our efforts, Senator Voinovich votes for this amendment. While this is very disappointing, the defeat was a very narrow one, which will be important when actual estate tax reform legislation moves in the next 12 months.
The Senate also agreed to a second estate tax amendment offered by Senator Durbin that creates a 60-vote point of order against putting the wealthy ahead of the middle class. That vote was 56 to 43 and essentially a “cover” vote for those who didn’t want to be seen putting the wealthy first. It was supported by some of the same Senators who voted for the Lincoln-Kyl amendment (but not by Senator Voinovich). Since the House budget resolution did not include a counterpart to the Lincoln-Kyl amendment, we will work to ensure that it is dropped in conference.
NEXT STEPS ON THE BUDGET RESOLUTION
Our main priorities for conference will be to preserve non-defense discretionary funding and revenue levels, and ensure that the budget resolution will facilitate consideration of key policies including health reform. As more analysis of the final House and Senate resolutions becomes available, we’ll distribute it to advocates.
