US Senate approves budget that gives Democrats win but leaves debt battle unresolved

WASHINGTON – The Senate has narrowly passed its first budget proposal in four years as majority Democrats went on record favouring almost $1 trillion in tax increases over the coming decade while sheltering domestic programs targeted by Republicans in the House of Representatives.

The Democratic plan also proposes to reverse automatic spending cuts that are beginning to strike both the Pentagon and domestic programs. It passed by a near party line 50-49 vote after senators working most of the night approved it in Saturday’s pre-dawn hours.

The vote came after lawmakers considered scores of votes on amendments, many of which were offered in hopes of inflicting political damage on Democratic senators up for re-election in Republican-leaning states.

President Barack Obama’s long-overdue budget is scheduled to be released March 8.

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