Senate pushes budget toward approval

Associated Press

WASHINGTON

Senate Republicans pushed a balanced-budget blueprint toward late-night approval Thursday night, laying down conservative markers for a likely veto struggle with President Barack Obama over their plans to erase deficits through trillions in spending cuts and repeal of the health care law.

Approval of the nonbinding budget was a certainty, one day after the House ratified a slightly different version on a party-line vote.

Separately, legislation to stabilize the system for paying physicians who treat Medicare patients cleared the House during the day and is expected to pass the Senate. As a result, the week’s events gave credence to Republican claims that their new, two-house majority would be able to govern without the chaos that has often plagued Congress in recent years.

The 10-year budget plan was nonbinding.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said it included ideas “that could boost jobs, raise annual wages by as much as $5,000 per family and drive economic growth for hardworking Americans.”

Democrats were expected to oppose it unanimously.