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Senate up next after House passes bold conservative budget

In this March 25, 2015, photo, Senate Minority Whip Richard Durbin of Ill., speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, to discuss the budget. The Senate is up after House Republicans pushed through a boldly conservative budget eliminating deficits over the next decade by cutting deeply into Medicaid, food stamps and welfare, and repealing the president’s health care law. "It really is a budget that is insensitive and unaware of the reality of life for working families, and that is sad," said Durbin. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) In this March 25, 2015, photo, Senate Minority Whip Richard Durbin of Ill., speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, to discuss the budget. The Senate is up after House Republicans pushed through a boldly conservative budget eliminating deficits over the next decade by cutting deeply into Medicaid, food stamps and welfare, and repealing the president’s health care law. "It really is a budget that is insensitive and unaware of the reality of life for working families, and that is sad," said Durbin. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

By Associated Press March 26, 2015 1 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Senate is up next.

Senate Republicans will try to pass their own budget after House Republicans pushed through a boldly conservative plan that achieves balance in a decade while cutting deeply into programs for the poor.

The House plan passed on a party-line vote of 228-199. Senate Republicans are expected to follow with their version late Thursday or early Friday, after hours of votes on amendments.

Both versions increase defense spending, but some defense hawks in the Senate are calling for more.

Rules governing budget debate in the Senate require only a majority vote, not the 60-vote margin usually needed, giving Republican leaders some maneuvering room.

The House plan turns Medicare into a voucher program while the Senate version does not.