House approves budget similar to Bush request
Democrats fault tax cuts
From Ted Barrett
CNN Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The House on Thursday narrowly approved a Republican-drawn budget for 2005 that is very similar to President Bush's request.
The vote for the $2.4 trillion bill was 215 to 212 and fell largely along party lines.
The bill, essentially a blueprint for spending, increases funding for defense and homeland security while holding the line on spending for most other domestic programs. It sets aside money for the war in Iraq and Afghanistan and scales back some of Bush's tax cuts. It also promises to cut the half trillion-dollar deficit in half over the next four years.
Before winning passage, GOP leaders had to assuage several groups of Republicans who threatened to vote against the bill for a variety of causes. Some wanted increased funding for veterans affairs. Others wanted a tougher budget-enforcement mechanism -- similar to the one passed two weeks ago by the Senate -- so that appropriators would stay within the budget parameters. A third group wanted more money for federal employees' pay.
Democrats opposed the bill. They argued it should have included more money for homeland security, veterans care, education and other domestic needs, and less money for tax cuts they say will mostly help rich people. The Democrats' substitute bill was defeated.
"These additional tax cuts can only have one affect; they will add dollar to dollar to the deficit which (is) already enormous, $521 billion this year," complained Rep. John Spratt of South Carolina, the top Democrat on the House Budget Committee.
Republican leaders said the country can afford tax cuts and shrink the deficit as long as spending is reigned in.
"We're asking that we begin to hold the line. We're not saying cuts, we're not saying eliminate, we're saying hold the line," said House Budget Committee Chairman Jim Nussle, R-Iowa. "We cannot begin to address the current budget deficit without getting ahold of the current rate of spending growth."
Congressional leaders hope to reconcile the House and Senate bills next week.
