House passes budget with no GOP votes

Posted: Wednesday, April 29, 2009 12:22 PM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: Congress, Democrats, Republicans

From NBC's Mark Murray
Earlier today, the House passed the conference report on the budget -- once again without a single Republican vote.

The vote was 233-193, with 17 Democrats siding against it. The budget now heads to the Senate for final approval. (This budget blueprint DOESN'T require a signature by the president.)

During the floor debate before the vote, Speaker Nancy Pelosi called the budget "a magnificent blueprint for the future," touting its investments in health care, education, and energy.

But Republicans blasted the size of the budget, as well as all the spending in it. House Minority Leader John Boehner said it was "nothing short of the most audacious move to a big socialist government in Washington DC than anything I could have ever dreamed about."

House Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence (IN) argued that it was the "most fiscally irresponsible budget in American history." He added, "It is more government, more spending, more debt, and more taxes."

*** UPDATE *** The 17 Democrats who voted against the measure are some of the most conservative and/or vulnerable members of the Dem caucus -- with one exception: Dennis Kucinich. Those 17 are: Barrow (GA), Boren (OK), Bright (AL), Childers (MS), Foster (IL), Griffith (AL), Kratovil (MD), Kucinich (OH), Markey (CO), Marshall (GA), Matheson (UT), McIntyre (NC), Minnick (ID), Mitchell (AZ), Nye (VA), Taylor (MS), Teague (NM).

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Comments

blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah

Republicans (Sent Wednesday, April 29, 2009 12:26 PM)

Whaaaaaaaaa! They wouldn't wisten to us!! Blaahahhahhawahhhahahha.

Shut up you big GOP crybabies.

LB, Virginia (Sent Wednesday, April 29, 2009 12:28 PM)

Again folks, this is the same John Boehner that helped Mark Foley prey on teenage congressional pages.

David Duke (R) (Sent Wednesday, April 29, 2009 12:29 PM)

There's Boehner tossing out the socialism word again. Perhaps he can start a committee for un-American activities and investigate whether people have ever been a member of the socialist party.

Republicans are just so out of touch it is amazing!

Chris - IL (Sent Wednesday, April 29, 2009 12:32 PM)

blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah

Republicans (Sent Wednesday, April 29, 2009 12:26 PM)
_______________

haha. Where's Gary Larson when you need him?? There's some rich material in DC right now!

LB, Virginia (Sent Wednesday, April 29, 2009 12:37 PM)

Be careful Republicans. If you don't vote lockstep with uberfuhrer Limbaugh you will be thrown out of the KK.....err I mean Republican party.

Unterfuhrer Boehner (Sent Wednesday, April 29, 2009 12:37 PM)

As expected the dopes of nope just keep up their negative ways and that's why they are shrinking fast and why more voters hate them now. I'm glad that Nancy Pelosi got this important legislative victory on Obama's 100th day.

Face it Evil Elephants Obama has to spend so much money to fix the screwups you made trashing our economy. These massive deficits are your fault, not Obama's!

Thanks for the Deficits Evil Elephants!

Eric, Salinas, CA (Sent Wednesday, April 29, 2009 12:38 PM)

Mark: Please give an update telling us which Dems voted against the budget. Thanks,

Ron Indiana (Sent Wednesday, April 29, 2009 12:38 PM)

Good for them. Interesting 17 Democrats voted against it. Why would that be?

Mike, Chesapeake VA (Sent Wednesday, April 29, 2009 12:39 PM)

Well this is what the Republicans have been saying about everything since day one.

I think Pelosi just needs to shut up. She is irritating everyone with her remarks about this being "a magnificent blueprint for the future". She is just rubbing salt in the Republican's wounds and that just does not help in getting everyone to work together.

SAM, USA (Sent Wednesday, April 29, 2009 12:40 PM)

Bonehead and the GNOPs: What are some of those programs on which you want to work with the Democrats? I can't hear you!

JJ Young (Sent Wednesday, April 29, 2009 12:41 PM)

Party of NO, once again. Pathetic!

GOP = NO (Sent Wednesday, April 29, 2009 12:42 PM)

Wow! A look at today news is putting too much of the republicans strategy out there all at once.
Rhetoric: Any one wonder about where this “Purify” language comes from. Lets Purify the Party? I think I remember that sentence construction from someplace… Where was it? Oh Yea, “Lets Purify the white race.” These guys are borrowing a Mantra from their true intentions. I guess they are getting bolder if they are going to start putting their real feeling out in the open. An enemy you can see is easier to defeat than one hidden. I guess The (R) next to their name stands for Racist after all.

Voting Rights act: Yea on the same day as “purify” they are also attempting to destroy the voting rights act. If you are not doing anything wrong then preclearance of changes should not make any difference. Unless they are up to shady business… It was Texas challenging this right? Texas is aggressively making it harder and harder to vote. There legislature is in session now and are looking at many bills to do this exact thing- undermine minority voting.

Handcuffing Steele: So they have a Black man leading their party and now they want to pass new rules to limit this person’s power. This was never needed when the republican leader was not Black.

All this Racist… I mean Republican news in one day. I guess after they purify the party then they will attempt to purify the Nation…

John Lemaster (Sent Wednesday, April 29, 2009 12:43 PM)

Do these Republicans really have sense of shame? I do think so. May be they think Americans are stupid or have short memories and so would have forgotten that they plunged the nation into this mess. My message to them is this: If they have nothing to contribute other that just say no or continue to repeat senseless argument about taxes, spending, and blah, blah, they will do this nation alot of good if they resign and just return to their homes.

Nelson, Knoxville, TN (Sent Wednesday, April 29, 2009 12:44 PM)

gets some sleep and find some respect this new Administration is working and to all both Democractic Houses good job not only you but us voters have been waitng for you all to get this Country the attention it really needs and wow are you all making President Obama look good/now Senator Reid round them up/Madam Speaker Pelosi you are and have been a leader and I don't blame you for those good ole boys put a whooping on you for about 8 years and got us into mostly all these meses that we are in and carry on Commander.

I voted (Sent Wednesday, April 29, 2009 12:44 PM)

What's amazing is should the budget pass in the Senate, the same ones opposing it will be among the first to take credit during the election cycles. They will assume that their constituency will have forgotten how they worked against them. It continues to amaze me how once they get voted in, they forget how they got there and for what purpose they were sent.

T. Cherry, Tampa, Florida (Sent Wednesday, April 29, 2009 12:46 PM)

Bohner,,One can only shake there head with the response from you,as you and your elks stood by and cheered your boy George while spending us into where we are today.Where were you then,and your boy wonder Eric,How bout Pence,where was he,why all the crying now,except for the fact the your party of 21% is fading faster then a pair of jeans,and soon will be forgotten.And whining is all you have left.Your party is to FU to admit it was your party that got us where we are.And until you wake up and smell the coffee,you will remain where you are today.Out of touch,out of excuses,out of power,and out of our Government,back to being on the side line,sitting on the pine,getting slivers.

jesse St.Paul Minnesota (Sent Wednesday, April 29, 2009 12:47 PM)

I suppose a spending freeze would be better. Let's just sit here and do nothing. Everything will fix itself. How about a little reality. I can't believe some people can't understand spending money to make it possible to save later. ex. health care, energy. Not to mention being safer by not needing foreign oil. I'm not an economist and can understand that.

Paula, Minot, ND (Sent Wednesday, April 29, 2009 12:49 PM)

watch out duck for I did not know rooster's could fly.

I voted (Sent Wednesday, April 29, 2009 12:49 PM)

Again & again......no Republican leadership, because they have become far-right extremists with ZERO good ideas. The GOP will get more of what they ask for....less & less Congressional seats in 2010, and 2012.

C.Myles/Oak Hall, VA (Sent Wednesday, April 29, 2009 12:50 PM)

Thanks Mark.
Ron

Ron Indiana (Sent Wednesday, April 29, 2009 12:50 PM)

And the Republicans didn't do any of this deficit spending adding more government, taxes and other pork projects while they were in charge of the House, Senate and White House, did they? Of course they did; only when they do it does it do the country any good.

S.B. Stein E.B. NJ (Sent Wednesday, April 29, 2009 12:50 PM)

You make this sound like it's a bad thing.

It's only the GOP who pays if they don't play ball.

TLH (Sent Wednesday, April 29, 2009 12:51 PM)

Once again the REPUKES put party before country!

Terry, Disabled Vet, Des Moines, IA (Sent Wednesday, April 29, 2009 12:54 PM)

17 Democrats siding against it

What is up with these Dems - they better tow the party line like good little sheep.

This just goes to prove, that not all democrats are stupid - at least 17 arent falling for the philosophy of...

Spend, Spend, and Spend

We spent to much - good - lets spend more

Afterall, money is free - right?

17 Smart Dems (Sent Wednesday, April 29, 2009 12:55 PM)

wow - john bonehead talking about excess - so guess that means 2 trillion in tax cuts by "W" and then invading Iraq - another 2 trillion - along with deregulations and so forth giving all the money to the top 1% while sticking the costs down the road - that's OK ??? GOP is RIP with no ideas other than tax cuts to help the top 1% - pity the fool for investing in our country...hey bonehead and GOP - time to sod off.

SWL (Sent Wednesday, April 29, 2009 12:56 PM)

Look at the states they represent. It shouldn't surprise anyone. The one acception, of course is crazy Denny from Ohio. Nine from the South, 2 from Mid West, 3 from mountain West, One from the East and none from the West. The conservative South and Mountain West are well represented in this group of nay sayers. It passed without them anyway and that was good. Pence is crazy, he had no problem agreeing to borrowning billions from COMMUNIST China to fight Bush's vendetta against Saddam but let a Democratic President ask for so much as a dime weeellll that is just too much. Hypocrisy is alive and well in the GOP.

eagle1776 (Sent Wednesday, April 29, 2009 12:56 PM)

20 to 30 years from now -- especially on the Education issue, you all might give Obama some credit on making our schools -- hopefully by then, better. I live in a state that came in 49 in Education, and you can tell only by having a conversation down here with SOME people how lousy we are at educating our children.

Barbara C. - Fort Lauderdale, FL (Sent Wednesday, April 29, 2009 12:58 PM)

IN YOUR FACE !!

With you or without you !!

We're better off when the rpeublicans DON'T COOPERATE
That way you don't have to dilute Democratic policies
Hopefully, they'll stay negative during the Health Care debate

We can pass a PURE DEMOCRATIC Health plan

Nancy Pelosi is ROLLING OVER the Far Right Flunkies !!

GO NANCY !! GO !!

MSierra, SF (Sent Wednesday, April 29, 2009 12:58 PM)

The Republicans keep throwing around the word “Socialism”. I feel they use it so much that when I hear the word from a Republican it simply loses its meaning. It’s now just a word, to me, that Republicans use when describing something they disagree with and when they want to make the issue at hand sound SCARY. It’s just an other reason why their credibility has suffered.

laram, Oakland, CA (Sent Wednesday, April 29, 2009 1:00 PM)

The bottom line for the White House is that it finally passed. Bipartisanship is no longer an issue.

http://www.political-buzz.com/

matt (Sent Wednesday, April 29, 2009 1:01 PM)

Well for a president and congress who promised transparency there are a lot of secrets in this bill. With over 800 billion dollars in pork this is the first budget bill where the sponsors of these pork spending are being kept secret. This is to protect these irresponsible liberal members of congress in the next election.

Carl Eagan, Pittsburgh, Pa (Sent Wednesday, April 29, 2009 1:05 PM)

Republicans is right on message with his blahs, which also reflect the state of the Republican party.

RichardinDelmar (Sent Wednesday, April 29, 2009 1:07 PM)

Carl Eagan if the pork (I assume you mean earmarks) are secret, how do you know about them? If you do, I would assume that you know who put them in. Right?

Could you share your information sources?

RichardinDelmar (Sent Wednesday, April 29, 2009 1:09 PM)

If hate lies and racism (comes in all colors you know) make you immune to swine flu then every leftist posting here is safe. Congrats

Dave, Tn (Sent Wednesday, April 29, 2009 1:24 PM)

Why be bi-partisan when the entire party can vote no and still lose? Let the Dems have the run for now. They got nothing better to do except spend, spend, spend.

Dave (Sent Wednesday, April 29, 2009 1:29 PM)

To Chris-IL: "There's Boehner tossing out the socialism word again."; and laram: "It’s now just a word, to me, that Republicans use when describing something they disagree with and when they want to make the issue at hand sound SCARY."
------------------------------------------------------
No kidding. Didn't Boehner get the memo? The new GOP buzzword is fascism, baby! Much scarier, right? Maybe that one will stick?

I have to agree with the poster from last week that recalled the great Inigo Montoya: "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."

Suburban Mom paying attention, IL (Sent Wednesday, April 29, 2009 1:30 PM)

So what? The Republicans voted no. They will continue to vote no unanimously. The Democrats have the numbers to pass whatever they like with no Republican support. The Senate will soon have a filibuster proof Democratic majority, so it does not matter what the Republicans do. No need for reconciliation, and no need for the Republicans to do anything more than vote no and explain why they did so. My question is: "What are the Democrats who are posting on this blog afraid of?" The Democrats have total control over Washington and can pass whatever legislation they like. There is absolutely no reason to call the Republicans racists, obstructionists, etc. What can they obstruct? The Democrats no longer have Republican cover, so let them have unitary control. We will see how it works and take it from there. All the name calling is silly, and it seriously needs to stop. What is the point?

Melinda, Charlotte, NC (Sent Wednesday, April 29, 2009 1:35 PM)

Which shows once again that only republican's are mindless automatons that vote lockstep with what the party wants whereas democrats vote what their constituents. Those 17 democrats come from very conservative districts. It is like Specter, if anyone thinks that just because he is a democrat now, he will vote any differently than he has in the past are just wrong.

Julie, Palm Desert, CA (Sent Wednesday, April 29, 2009 1:41 PM)

"17 Democrats siding against it. What is up with these Dems - they better tow the party line like good little sheep. "

And yet somehow keeping every Republican in line doesn't make them even bigger sheep. As I see it this is one more vote proving that Democrats are ALLOWED to be individuals while Republicans are REQUIRED to vote lockstep.

Now, how about a little acknowledgement of Keynesian economics. Government SHOULD deficit spend during times of recession, as we are now. That helps get a down economy moving again because the government is spender of last resort. Government should NOT deficit spend during non-recessionary times, that's when the debt should be paid down. Like during most of GWB's two terms. Except that Republicans nearly bankrupted the treasury with massive tax cut giveaways to the wealthiest individuals and large corporations. So much for the GOP as party of fiscal responsibility.

John B, Des Moines, IA (Sent Wednesday, April 29, 2009 1:44 PM)

What is the Republican agenda for America, I am still waiting to hear one. Today's Republican would have been against the Inter-state freeway system and the GI bill. They would have characterize both program as big government programs.

Ben Purser, Royal Oak, MI (Sent Wednesday, April 29, 2009 1:53 PM)

>>>If hate lies and racism (comes in all colors you know) make you immune to swine flu then every leftist posting here is safe. Congrats
Dave, Tn (Sent Wednesday, April 29, 2009 1:24 PM)
==========
This, people, is what psychologist call PROJECTION. Accusing others of being something you are guilty of being.

You might want to take a look at the FOX News site, or Limbaugh's site, or Hannity's site, or the numerous other right leaning sites. Of course, you then run the risk of having to face your own "hate lies and racism".

http://jawillie.blog.com

jawillie, Philadelphia, PA. (Sent Wednesday, April 29, 2009 1:54 PM)

Foster from Illinois, i hope your proud of your self, the way the president campaigned for you, thanks alot. you would not have been able to vote on the budget if it were not for the president.

Jeff D Evanston IL. (Sent Wednesday, April 29, 2009 1:57 PM)

Good for them. Interesting 17 Democrats voted against it. Why would that be?
-----------------------------------------------
I'm thinking it's because the Dem party is inclusive where people are allowed to think and voted independently and according to their own conscious and constituencies

griff, seattle (Sent Wednesday, April 29, 2009 2:02 PM)

Anyone who votes to saddle my children and children's children with trillions of dollars in debt are completely immoral. You have no morals. I will not forget Democrats. And don't bring up the idiot Republicans and what they did the past years, they learned best by following your example.

Down with deficits (Sent Wednesday, April 29, 2009 2:20 PM)

How come Nancy Pelosi couldn't get 17 Democrats to vote yes? Is it possible that these 17 Democrats voted their conscience. Looks like not all is well in Obama land. How dare they vote against this on such a historic day. Take them out behind the woodshed and whip them. Oh, I forgot, that is torture, but then listening to Pelosi is torture as well.

Richard, San Antonio, Texas (Sent Wednesday, April 29, 2009 2:20 PM)

17 Dems thought it was crap too... everyone seems to miss that....

Feed Up... (Sent Wednesday, April 29, 2009 2:24 PM)

I just love the Republican budget alternative or " The Republican Road To Recovery " all 18 pages of it. They actually were able to stretch Tax Cuts For The Rich into 18 whole pages! Of course there were lots of pictures. The class clowns strike again!

Charles Gubitosi Corpus Christi, TX (Sent Wednesday, April 29, 2009 2:30 PM)

Here's the funny thing about all of this 'socialist' rhetoric that the Republicans are throwing around:

I live in a country where the current government is held by the Conservative Party, which favors small government and lower taxes. My country also has free national health care and various other social programs that have caused it to be branded as 'socialist' by several pundits and political figures in the United States.

My country also has one of the healthiest banking systems in the world right now because of the fiscal restraint shown here. Not perfect by any means and tied to the fortunes of the other countries in the world, but still a good foundation upon which we can rebuild after the economic crisis has passed.

Can you guess which country that is? You don't have to look far! Just start from anywhere in the continental US and drive north. You'll get here eventually.

James, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (Sent Wednesday, April 29, 2009 2:38 PM)

With over 800 billion dollars in pork this is the first budget bill where the sponsors of these pork spending are being kept secret. This is to protect these irresponsible liberal members of congress in the next election.
Carl Eagan, Pittsburgh, Pa (Sent Wednesday, April 29, 2009 1:05 PM)

Carl - How did you get in on the $800 million in secret pork spending? If it's secret, how did you find out about it? Do you know someone on the inside? And could you tell us about some of it? That would be appreciated, plus, it will expose all those irresponsible liberal members of congress (in case their constituents don't know they're liberal). Thanks.

Sharon IL (Sent Wednesday, April 29, 2009 3:11 PM)

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