Congress OKs $1.4-Trillion U.S. Budget

WASHINGTON — Congress granted final approval Wednesday to a Democrat-written $1.45-trillion federal budget for 1992 that rejects President Bush’s plan to cut Medicare and other benefit programs.

The Senate approved the measure, 57 to 41, shortly after the House adopted it, 239 to 181.

A compromise between separate, similar measures the House and Senate passed in April, the measure cuts $2.8 billion from Bush’s proposals for science, law enforcement and natural resources programs. It adds $4.9 billion to the President’s planned spending for education, job training, health and veterans benefits.

It also rejects the $46 billion in cuts Bush proposed over the next five years in the Medicare health program for the elderly and handicapped, veterans payments and other benefits.

The spending plan for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1 contains no tax increases or cuts.

The budget serves as a mostly non-binding guide for later spending and tax bills. As usual, Congress’ appropriations committees are already drawing up bills that make changes in the budget’s spending priorities, such as reducing the amount set aside for education, health and labor programs.

The spending plan contains a deficit of $278.8 billion, smaller than the $300-billion shortfall expected this year.