WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama’s allies in the Senate have voted down a challenge by Sen. John McCain to his budget plan.
Obama’s opponent last fall offered a plan that would curb the growth of benefit programs like Medicare, cap domestic agency budgets and boost the Pentagon’s budget. The Arizona Republican also sought to eliminate Obama’s proposed increases in taxes on the wealthy.
The 60-38 tally came as the House and Senate prepared to pass modified versions of Obama’s $3.6 trillion budget for next year.
Passage of the companion plans would provide the young administration with a symbolic boost, even though the budget blueprints provide little guidance on how to craft subsequent Obama initiatives to reshape the U.S. health care system or combat global warming.