Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/482332
ByDavidEspoand Andrew Taylor The Associated Press WASHINGTON Republicans in Congress advanced bal- anced-budget plans bris- tling with cuts in Medicaid and other benefit programs Thursday, determined to make a down payment on last fall's campaign prom- ise to erase deficits by the end of the decade. Last-minute maneu- vering to match Pentagon spending levels requested by President Barack Obama consumed GOP lawmakers in both the House Budget Committee and the coun- terpart Senate panel. Yet the GOP's focus also extended to deficit reduc- tion, repeal of the health care law, an overhaul of the tax code and other budget priorities long advocated by conservatives in control of both houses of Congress for the first time in nearly a decade. "By demanding Washing- ton live within its means, we are forcing government to be more efficient, effec- tive and accountable," Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., said af- ter gaveling the House's ver- sion of the budget through its Budget Committee on a 22-13 party-line vote. The Senate budget panel, chaired by Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., followed suit a few hours later, on a 12-10 vote that also fell along party lines. Critics voiced their dis- satisfaction in unsparing terms. "What they are propos- ing is to cut programs for some of the most vulnera- ble people in this country — the elderly, children, sick low-income people" said Vermont Sen. Bernie Sand- ers, an independent who may run for president next year as a Democrat. "At the same time they want to give significant tax breaks to the wealthy and the large cor- porations." Both the House and Sen- ate budget blueprints called for more than $5 trillion in deficit reduction over the next decade, the over- whelming portion of it coming from repeal of the health care law and savings from social programs in- cluding Medicaid, welfare, food stamps and Medicare. Details were sparse or, in some cases, non-existent. There were differences in the two plans, to be sure. For the third year in a row, House Republicans showed an eagerness to convert Medicare into a voucher-like program for individuals who enroll be- ginning in 2024, a change that would generate signif- icant budget savings only in the longer term. Even so, the prospect of such a major shift in the program that provides health care for 40 million seniors unnerved Senate Republicans, already eye- ing the 2016 campaign in which they must defend their newly won majority. They omitted mention of it in their proposal. Both blueprints envi- sioned an overhaul of the tax code, details to be de- termined later. Red ink was projected to give way to a small surplus in 2024 in the House plan, and one year later under the Senate's scenario. Pentagon spending was controversial, improbably so for a party that has long enjoyed more favorable pub- lic ratings on defense than Democrats. In both houses, though, defense hawks had to strug- gle with fellow conserva- tives for whom deficits were an equal concern. After an overnight delay caused by internal differ- ences, House Republicans agreed to settle the matter next week, when they are expected to add $38 bil- lion to their defense plan to match Obama's requested increase. Enzi struggled with the same issue in the Senate committee, where numer- ous Republicans said he had shortchanged defense by proposing less than Obama recommended. Florida Sen. Marco Ru- bio, a Republican presiden- tial hopeful, said the Senate plan "fails to prioritize our national defense after years of damaging cuts to our na- tion's military." On the Senate bud- get panel, a second White House hopeful, Sen. Lind- sey Graham, R-S.C., won party-line 12-10 approval of a $38 billion proposal to raise military spending to levels the House is expected to approve next week. Pentagon spending has been constrained in recent years by a bipartisan agree- ment that imposes separate caps on defense and domes- tic accounts. Obama's budget called for exceeding the caps in both cases. CAMPAIGN PROMISE Ho us e, S en at e pa ne ls a do pt b al an ce d- bu dg et p la ns CLIFFOWEN—THEASSOCIATEDPRESSFILE House Budget Committee Chairman Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., center, holds-up a synopsis of the House Republican budget proposal as he announces the plan on Capitol Hill. By Josh Lederman The Associated Press WASHINGTON President Barack Obama ordered the federal government on Thursday to cut its green- house gas emissions by nearly half over the next decade, driving his cli- mate change agenda for- ward despite percolating challenges from Republi- can-led states. By curtailing pollution within the U.S. government, Obama sought to increase political pressure on other nations to deal seriously with climate change. The U.S. and other nations will soon announce how much they're willing to cut their national emissions as part of a global climate treaty to be finalized in Decem- ber; scientists warn that if those pledges are too lax, the treaty could be too weak to stop the worst effects of global warming. "We thought it was im- portant for us to lead by ex- ample," Obama said at the Energy Department head- quarters, where he toured a sprawling installation of so- lar panels on the building's roof. "These are ambitious goals, but we know they're achievable goals." Under an executive order signed by Obama, the gov- ernment must cut its emis- sions of the heat-trapping gases blamed for global warming by 40 percent, compared to 2008 levels — a move the White House said could save taxpayers up to $18 billion in elec- tricity costs. Obama also directed agencies to ramp up use of renewable energy so that within a decade, roughly one-third of the government's power con- sumption will come from sources like solar, wind and hydropower. Yet it was unclear how the government would meet those targets. The White House said it was provid- ing agencies with new tools to track their progress and "sustainability plans," but offered no specifics. Already, Obama's ad- ministration has gone after most of the major sources of U.S. greenhouse gas emis- sions, including cars and trucks, power plants, meth- ane from natural gas pro- duction and refrigerants. The administration was also expected to release new rules for "fracking" — hydraulic fracturing for gas or oil — on public lands as early as Friday. Most of those regulations have faced intense opposi- tion from the energy indus- try and from Republicans — including Senate Major- ity Leader Mitch McCon- nell, who has urged states to defy Obama's power plant rules by refusing to submit compliance plans to Washington. In con- trast, Obama's order cut- ting emissions within the government elicited no im- mediate criticism. Although the govern- ment is the largest U.S. en- ergy consumer, it's respon- sible for less than 1 percent of annual U.S. emissions — and a far smaller chunk of emissions worldwide. Still, the Obama administration was betting that aggressive federal cuts would spur pri- vate industry and other na- tions to follow suit. 'SUSTAINABILITY PLANS' Obama drives ahead on climate with government emissions cuts JACQUELYN MARTIN — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS President Barack Obama returns to the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on Thursday a er attending a meeting at the Energy Department. 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