Herbivore Posted December 21, 2005 Share Posted December 21, 2005 source Senate OK's bill to cut deficit with Cheney's help VP casts tie-breaking vote on legislation that will reduce benefit programs Updated: 11:04 a.m. ET Dec. 21, 2005 WASHINGTON - The Republican-controlled Senate passed legislation to cut federal deficits by $39.7 billion on Wednesday by the narrowest of margins, 51-50, with Vice President Dick Cheney casting the deciding vote. The measure, the product of a year's labors by the White House and congressional Republicans, imposes the first restraints in nearly a decade of federal benefit programs such as Medicaid, Medicare and student loans. "This is the one vote you'll have this year to reduce the rate of growth of the federal government," said Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, in a final plea for passage. But Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid of Nevada countered that the GOP was advancing "an ideologically driven, extreme, radical budget. It caters to lobbyists and an elite group of ultraconservative ideologues here in Washington, all at the expense of middle class Americans," he said. Cheney flies back in nick of time Republicans signaled earlier in the week they would need the vice president to be present for the final vote on deficit cuts, and he flew back early from an overseas diplomatic mission. "The vice president votes in the affirmative," he said, speaking only a few words as dictated by Senate custom. He wasn't the only one who made an unexpected trip back to Washington. Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., flew back on Tuesday night. He has been recuperating at home from knee replacement surgery, and he made his way into the Senate with the aid of a walker. The roll call delivered less than the final victory Republicans had hoped for. In maneuvering in advance of the final vote, Democrats succeeded in forcing minor change that will require the House to return to Washington to vote on the bill before it can be sent to President Bush for his signature. Passage is all but certain, but the timing remains in question, since most House members have returned home for the holidays. The vote came on the first of two major measures facing tests in the Senate during the day. On the second, Republicans maneuvered to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling. Democrats opposed that measure with a filibuster, and Republicans scrambled for the 60 votes needed to prevail. Cuts make small dent in deficit By themselves, the deficit cuts included in the five-year bill would amount to only 2.5 percent of projected shortfalls totaling $1.6 trillion over the same time frame. Republicans said the significance lies in more than mere numbers, adding that programs such as Medicare and Medicaid threaten to consume an unsustainable amount of federal revenue if their growth is not trimmed quickly. Home health care payments under Medicare would be frozen at current levels for a year under the bill, Medicaid regulations would be changed to make it harder for the elderly to qualify for federal nursing home benefits by turning assets over to their children. Lender subsidies are reduced as part of an attempt to squeeze $12.6 billion from student loan programs. Another provision raises $3.6 billion for the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp., the federal agency that protects certain pension plans. The money would come from an increase in the premium employers pay for each covered worker or retiree, and from a fee on companies that end their pension plans. Billions more would come from programs unrelated to benefit programs. The legislation assumes $10 billion in federal receipts from the sale of part of the analog spectrum, for example. Five Republicans cross party lines All 44 Democrats voted against the measure, as did Sen. James Jeffords of Vermont, an independent. Five of 55 Republicans crossed party lines to oppose the bill as well. They were Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins of Maine, Gordon Smith of Oregon, Mike DeWine of Ohio and Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island. Of them, Chafee, DeWine and Snowe are seeking re-election next year. It was the seventh time since Cheney became vice president that he used his powers to break a tie vote, according to records maintained by the Office of the Secretary of the Senate. With lawmakers eager to adjourn for the holidays, the Senate moved almost immediately into a debate on the ANWR oil drilling provisions. The outcome of that vote, too, was too close to call. This time, Cheney was not a factor, though, since supporters of the bill needed 60 votes to overcome last-ditch Democratic opposition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angelofdeath Posted December 21, 2005 Share Posted December 21, 2005 i think this whole cutting the budget shit is hilarious. while its a step in the right direction, how much of this is really a cut? how come in washington an increase is called a cut? they arent cutting shit. chop off about 5 trillion of fat, then we might be doing something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gasfacevictm Posted December 22, 2005 Share Posted December 22, 2005 that 5 trillion of fat could be summed up with every fat white guy in elected office. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yum Posted December 22, 2005 Share Posted December 22, 2005 i actually cant believe american government can get away with opening a wildlife reserve to oil drilling. what the fuck is wrong with your country. then again my country mines uranium to sell to china Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gasfacevictm Posted December 22, 2005 Share Posted December 22, 2005 where you at? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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