WASHINGTON, May 21 (UPI) -- Despite hopes of passage this week, Senate GOP leaders have delayed consideration of the 2005 budget resolution over concerns that it was not passable.
The House approved the compromise budget plan -- which establishes the rules for the annual federal appropriations bills -- on Wednesday, but Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., has had trouble rallying the votes needed to pass the measure in the Senate.
GOP leaders have been unable to get the support needed from several Republican moderates who voted in favor of the inclusion of limits on $27.5 billion in tax cuts as part of the original Senate version of the bill.
Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island, John McCain of Arizona and Olympia Snowe of Maine have all said they oppose the measure because the one-year limits requiring that all discretionary spending in the bill be paid for does not extend to three expiring tax cuts that are priorities for the Republican leadership and Bush White House.
Although the 2005 budget can be completed without the resolution being approved in the Senate, the measure would provide protections that would blocks attempts by Democrats to amend appropriations bills on the Senate floor.
