House Panel Backs GOP Budget Plan
A House panel on Wednesday approved a $1.74-trillion federal budget plan as Republicans moved to push the measure through Congress over Democratic complaints it would shortchange domestic programs.
The plan for next fiscal year, approved by the House Budget Committee on a party-line vote, calls for nearly $800 billion in tax cuts over 10 years, setting aside Social Security surpluses needed later by retiring baby boomers, and staying within spending limits of a 1997 balanced-budget agreement.
Democrats said Republican tax cuts, including up to $15 billion next year, would come at the expense of Medicare and domestic programs. They also said Republicans poured too much additional money into defense, $8 billion more than President Clinton’s requested increase.
Hoping to use the tax-cut plan as a campaign platform, Republicans rejected a series of amendments from Democrats who wanted more money for Medicare.
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