House, Senate to vote on budget plan

WASHINGTON, April 28 (UPI) -- Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives settled their differences over a $3.5 trillion 2010 budget plan, clearing the way for its passage Wednesday.

The blueprint preserves all of President Barack Obama's key domestic priorities while seeking to cut the deficit in half by 2012, The Washington Post reported Tuesday. The plan has special "reconciliation" instructions -- a procedure that forbids filibustering -- to smooth passage of healthcare reform and an expansion in college tuition assistance, two of Obama campaign pledges.

On Monday, the House and Senate reached agreement on a five-year plan would hit a $523 billion deficit target by 2014, representing a two-thirds reduction of the nearly $1.7 trillion shortfall expected this year, Politico reported Tuesday. Obama has projected a deficit of $749 billion in his five-year request for $3.67 trillion.

The budget also has room for a global warming bill, but that legislation would not be protected by reconciliation, the Post said.

Negotiations over a final blueprint for the five-year budget hit a snag during the weekend when House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland sought to toughen deficit-reduction rules to bar new spending unless it is offset by cuts or revenue increases, a pay-as-you-go plan. Under pressure from Blue Dog Democrats, a group of fiscal moderates and conservatives, House leaders agreed to vote on those rules and enshrine them in federal law. Senate leaders have refused.

House Democratic aides said the matter had been resolved without any Senate concessions.

The scheduled House and Senate votes Wednesday, Obama's 100th day in office.