Senate Passes $2.8 Trillion 2007 Budget.

Source: AP News via MyWay.com

The Senate passed an ever-expanding budget all the while denying President Bush on the issues of tax cuts and Medicare curbs.

Job security must be on the minds of the Republican majority on the Hill.

The sentiment is nice, but great lack of fiscal responsibility again, guys.

WASHINGTON (AP)--The Senate on Thursday passed an election-year budget plan forsaking President Bush's tax cuts and Medicare curbs, hours after lifting the ceiling on the national debt to $9 trillion.

The spending blueprint, approved 51-49, little resembles Bush's proposal last month for the budget year that begins Oct. 1.

To the disappointment of budget hawks, the Senate's measure would break Bush's proposed caps on spending for programs such as education, low-income heating subsidies and health research.

Vice President Dick Cheney was on hand for a possible tie-breaking vote, but that proved unnecessary.

Senators earlier voted 52-48 to send Bush a measure that would allow the government to borrow an additional $781 billion and prevent a first-ever default on Treasury notes.

As a result, the government could pay for the war in Iraq without raising taxes or cutting popular domestic programs.

The House, meanwhile, overwhelmingly approved a $92 billion measure that would provide more money for the war in Iraq and hurricane relief for the Gulf Coast.

Time to pull out the "we care about people" card knowing that losing control of Congress is an innate possibility.

Among the specific votes for the budget plan were:

--$3 billion more for heating subsidies for the poor. It passed 51-49.

--$7 billion more for education, health and worker safety accounts. It passed 73-27.

--$1.2 billion more for aviation security and stopping Bush's proposed increase in airline ticket taxes. They advanced by voice vote.

--$1 billion more for benefits for military survivors.

The votes Thursday set up a confrontation with the House, which is certain to oppose the additional spending.

Tags: [new budget passed], [2.8 trillion dollars], [prevent default on Treasury notes], [government in serious debt], [we will be in debt for the rest of our lives]