Congress Passes $3.56T Budget Resolution For FY 2010

Main Category: Dentistry
Also Included In: Public Health
Article Date: 01 May 2009 - 4:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   opinions  

Both chambers of Congress on Wednesday approved a $3.56 trillion budget resolution (S Con Res 13) that includes reconciliation language that provides "significant room for maneuvering" when Congress considers health care reform legislation, CQ Today reports (Clarke, CQ Today, 4/30). Not a single Republican voted for the measure in either chamber -- including Republican Sen. Arlen Specter (Pa.), who announced earlier this week that he will be joining the Democratic Party. The measure was approved 233-193 in the House, with 17 Democrats joining Republicans in voting against the bill. The Senate approved the measure by a 53-43 vote, with three Senate Democrats joining Republican senators in voting against the measure (Hulse, New York Times, 4/30).

The resolution is nonbinding but will set the framework for legislation on taxes, appropriations and entitlement programs later in the year, CQ Today reports (CQ Today, 4/30). According to Roll Call, the vote "ends months of drama" over whether to include the reconciliation language, which will prevent Senate filibusters and allow bills to pass with just 51 votes in the Senate (Dennis, Roll Call, 4/29). Republicans are opposed to using the reconciliation process on health care legislation; however, Democrats have said they will only use the process if a bipartisan agreement is not reached. Committees working on health care policy will have until Oct. 15 to submit reconciliation bills if they choose to use the process. Senate committees are planning to consider a health care bill in June, and both chambers are aiming to vote on that bill before the August recess. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said the budget resolution approved Wednesday marks the "first time in many, many years we have a president's budget on the floor that is reflective on our national values" (CQ Today, 4/30).

Reprinted with kind permission from http://www.nationalpartnership.org. You can view the entire Daily Women's Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery here. The Daily Women's Health Policy Report is a free service of the National Partnership for Women & Families, published by The Advisory Board Company.

© 2009 The Advisory Board Company. All rights reserved.

• Additional
• References
• Citations