GOP-controlled House oks balanced budget plan including trillions in spending cuts

WASHINGTON – The Republican-controlled House has approved a budget blueprint that projects balance by the end of the decade and includes trillions of dollars in savings from benefit programs.

The vote in favour of the plan was 228-199.

The blueprint itself is non-binding, but sets Republicans on a path to pass legislation that repeals the health care law, remakes Medicare and overhauls the tax code, in addition to other steps to implement their plan.

The GOP-controlled Senate is at work on a slightly different budget plan, with a vote expected by week’s end.

Republicans won control of Congress in last fall’s elections, and said at the time they would tackle deficits and try to rein in the growth of benefit programs.