Completing a conference report on the $1.8 trillion fiscal 2001 budget resolution by the end of week-in time for both the April 15 statutory deadline and the start of the spring recess next week-will be the primary focus of congressional and budget committee leaders.
The Senate adopted its version of the fiscal 2001 budget plan Friday by a vote of 51-45, with GOP Sens. Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island and George Voinovich of Ohio joining with a united Democratic Caucus in opposition to the GOP leadership. Sens. Harry Reid, D-Nev., Daniel Patrick Moynihan, D-N.Y., Robert Bennett, R-Utah and John McCain, R-Ariz., left prior to the final vote.
While the House and Senate documents are similar, the House plan calls for $596.5 billion in total spending and the Senate $600.5 billion-after a compromise Senate floor deal on budget enforcement provisions added a $4 billion increase for defense appropriations.
Both resolutions provide for a minimum of $150 billion over five years in reconciliation tax cuts, although the House resolution calls for as many as four reconciliation bills and the Senate resolution only one. Both also contain $40 billion reserve funds to be used either for Medicare reforms and prescription drug coverage, or debt reduction.
Meanwhile, the first of the House Budget Committee's task forces on federal government waste, fraud and abuse will hold a hearing, when the Task Force on Housing and Infrastructure programs meets Tuesday morning to hear from the Transportation Department's inspector general.
NEXT STORY: Three agencies honored for using plain language