The House and Senate voted this week to go to conference on the budget and has already struck a tentative deal on major elements of the budget resolution to include the fast-track procedure of reconciliation for health care reform and student loan initiatives, specifically, eliminating wasteful subsidies to private lenders and using that money for need-based grants. The reconciliation procedure would make these initiatives immune to filibuster, or obstruction, in the Senate, and is especially key to pass programs like health care reform. Unfortunately, the Senate voted Thursday to prohibit use of reconciliation to pass a cap and trade program that will combat global warming. The Senate has been against reconciliation for the budget thus far – especially over cap and trade – but the possibility of its use for health care and education is great news!
Both chambers of Congress plan to hold a formal conference committee meeting on April 27 and Democrats hope to have a final budget resolution by the time Obama has marked his 100 days in office next week.
The House and Senate have appointed their conferees – those that will represent each chamber of Congress in the debate over the final budget outcome – and the conferees are……(drum roll)
Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI). Rep. Ryan is a ranking member of the House Budget Committee and has been very vocal over the spending in the budget. One of his main messages is “Cut Spending” and he supported the Republican Budget Alternative, which favored spending on national defense and veteran’s health care, as well as permanently extending the 2001/2003 tax relief provisions – which gives huge tax breaks to the top income bracket. (This alternative budget was defeated).
Rep. Allen Boyd (D-FL) Rep. Boyd is a Blue Dog Democrat, which is a coalition of fiscally moderate and conservative Democrats in the House. Boyd supports an honest, responsible budget.
Rep. John Spratt (D-SC) Rep. Spratt is Chairman of the House Budget Committee and he helped urge Gov. Sanford of South Carolina, who has been known for his anti-stimulus position, to accept the stimulus money for the state. Spratt also supports college affordability and health care for children.
Rep. Rosa Delauro (D-CT) Rep. DeLauro voted to pass the House Budget Resolution and supports energy reform and affordable higher education. She has spoken out against the defeated Republican Budget Alternative and is against budget cuts that will harm vital programs like health care and nutrition programs.
Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) Rep. Hensarling has expressed concern over the spending in the Economic Recovery package and has stated that “recessions are just a part of freedom” and thinks the best solution to fixing the economy is more tax cuts.
Senator Kent Conrad(D-ND) Senator Conrad is Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee and is hesitant to use reconciliation in the budget for fear of the partisan fury it will cause among Republicans.
Senator Judd Gregg(R-NH) Senator Gregg is a ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee and has been one of the most fervent critics of the President’s budget priorities.
Senator Patty Murray(D-WA) Senator Murray voted in support of the House Budget Resolution, supports green jobs training, and is a champion for expanding women’s health services for veterans.