WASHINGTON — House Republicans rallied behind a slashing budget blueprint Thursday, passing a nonbinding but politically imposing measure that promises a balanced federal ledger in 10 years with sweeping budget cuts and termination of health care coverage under the Affordable Care Act.
The 219-205 vote on the budget outline takes a mostly symbolic swipe at the government’s chronic deficits. Follow-up legislation to actually implement the cuts isn’t in the offing. Twelve Republicans opposed the measure, and not a single Democrat supported it.
The GOP plan, by Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., would cut more than $5 trillion over the coming decade to reach balance by 2024, relying on sharp cuts to domestic programs, but leaving Social Security untouched and shifting more money to the Pentagon and health care for veterans.
Senate Democrats have announced they won’t bother with a budget plan this year, relying on Ryan’s December pact with Senate Budget Committee Chairman Patty Murray, D-Wash., to guide consideration of this year’s round of appropriations bills. The Associated Press
