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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Congress passes budget bill to avert government shutdown | Congress passes budget bill to avert government shutdown |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Congress has comfortably passed a large spending bill to keep the US government running until the end of September and avert a temporary shutdown. | Congress has comfortably passed a large spending bill to keep the US government running until the end of September and avert a temporary shutdown. |
| President Barack Obama must now sign the bill, which was passed by a bipartisan vote of 318-109. | President Barack Obama must now sign the bill, which was passed by a bipartisan vote of 318-109. |
| It retains $85bn (£56bn) in spending cuts this year that took effect on 1 March, but gives cabinet agencies new flexibility in implementing them. | It retains $85bn (£56bn) in spending cuts this year that took effect on 1 March, but gives cabinet agencies new flexibility in implementing them. |
| The bill also keeps in place a pay freeze for federal employees. | The bill also keeps in place a pay freeze for federal employees. |
| Approved by the Senate on Wednesday, the legislation provides an extra $87bn to the Pentagon to pay for overseas operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. | Approved by the Senate on Wednesday, the legislation provides an extra $87bn to the Pentagon to pay for overseas operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. |
| Ryan plan approved | Ryan plan approved |
| However, the bill does not signal an end to the fiscal warfare between Republicans and Democrats that has gridlocked Washington DC for so long. | However, the bill does not signal an end to the fiscal warfare between Republicans and Democrats that has gridlocked Washington DC for so long. |
| Congress will next have to agree on a budget for the following fiscal year, which begins on 1 October. | Congress will next have to agree on a budget for the following fiscal year, which begins on 1 October. |
| Much of the disagreement has revolved around how best to reduce the government's annual budget deficit, which has hovered at around $1tn, without harming the economy. | Much of the disagreement has revolved around how best to reduce the government's annual budget deficit, which has hovered at around $1tn, without harming the economy. |
| On Thursday, Republicans in the House backed a budget plan by Representative Paul Ryan. | On Thursday, Republicans in the House backed a budget plan by Representative Paul Ryan. |
| That bill, and a rival proposal being debated in the Democratic-controlled Senate, are widely viewed as political posturing by each party as they outline their federal spending priorities for future fiscal fights. | That bill, and a rival proposal being debated in the Democratic-controlled Senate, are widely viewed as political posturing by each party as they outline their federal spending priorities for future fiscal fights. |
| The Ryan blueprint, passed by 221-207 without the support of single Democratic lawmaker, would cut $5tn from the budget over a decade. | The Ryan blueprint, passed by 221-207 without the support of single Democratic lawmaker, would cut $5tn from the budget over a decade. |
| It proposes an overhaul of the government healthcare programme, Medicare, that would affect those aged 54 and under. | It proposes an overhaul of the government healthcare programme, Medicare, that would affect those aged 54 and under. |
| It also incorporates a $600bn tax raise already approved by Congress in a New Year deal. | It also incorporates a $600bn tax raise already approved by Congress in a New Year deal. |
| Mr Ryan's plan has been criticised by Democrats who disagree with a strategy that would balance the budget without further raising revenue. And late on Thursday, the Democratic-led Senate soundly rejected it on a 40-59 vote. | |
| In the Senate, Democrats are putting forward a plan that would raise $1tn in new revenue to stabilise the national debt, but would not fully balance the budget. | In the Senate, Democrats are putting forward a plan that would raise $1tn in new revenue to stabilise the national debt, but would not fully balance the budget. |