Budgetry

The first Obama budget passed the House and Senate today, meaning we will get to stick China with one last multi-billion IOU before our country collapses in on itself. The House budget is $3.6 trillion and includes a deficit of $1.2 trillion, while the Senate budget is $3.5 trillion with a $1.2 trillion deficit. Crafty Senators, less money, same deficit. That's top notch work, boys. In actuality both deficits are an improvement over this year's deficit of $1.8 trillion. All in all there were many boring platitudes and cheap accusations to be handed out.

"It's going to take a lot of work to clean up the mess we inherited, and passing this budget is a critical step in the right direction," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said. "Staying true to these priorities will help turn around the economy for the many Americans who are underwater right now."

Republicans in both houses accused Democrats of drafting plans that would hurt the recession-ravaged economy in the long run, rather than help it, and saddle future generations with too much debt.

"The administration's budget simply taxes too much, spends too much and borrows too much at a moment when we can least afford it," said the Senate Republican leader, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.

What happened with the Republican budget plans that totally didn't cause deficits and diddle the economy with debt? Not much. Apparently the Ryan pamphlet/joke budget they handed out to a incredulous media only garnered 137 Republican votes. John McCain's budget never materialized. I guess he's going to wait until next week to unveil it. All in all no Republicans voted for the budget, just like no Republicans vote for practically anything the White House wants passed.

In other news, two democrat Senators, Ben "That number sounds too high" Nelson and Evan "I lead a group of Senate moderates who ascribe to no unified ethos or even vote together" Bayh, crossed over to vote against the budget. Why? No reason other than the budget was in no danger of failure and you don't get your name in the paper for agreeing with your party. Rest easy, there was enough bipartisan consensus to tack on an amendment to give a tax break to people who inherit more than $7 million. Why not? These people clearly earned that money. This is the bipartisanship we're in danger of losing if Democrats try to pass anything through the reconciliation process. Rest easy. Budget passed, money borrowed, future mortgaged, Paris Hilton's future secured. Time to lean back and put your feet on the desk, the important work is done.