Legislative Update
The Senate adopted its fiscal 2010 budget resolution (S Con Res 85) Thursday night, a few hours after the house adopted its version (H Con Res 85).
While neither budget exactly mirrors President Obama's proposal, they do pave the way for implementing his proposals on health care, energy and education. Conference negotiations will focus on whether to include provisions that would, like the House plan, allow health care overhaul legislation move through the filibuster proof reconciliation process and how much in discretionary spending should be provided to the Appropriations panels to write the 12 annual spending bills.
According to Congressional Quarterly, the Senate plan would provide the Appropriations panel with $1.08 trillion, which is $15 billion less than the president requested and about $8 billion less than the House resolution.
