House and Senate budget resolutions oppose TRICARE fee hikes and Medicare payment cuts and support fixes for widows and disabled retirees - but leave funding sources unclear. On March 13, the House of Representatives narrowly approved its version of the FY 2009 Budget Resolution by a 212-207 vote. The Senate approved its version of the budget the same day by a 51-44 vote. The budget resolution is a key document that affects every American, because it lays down spending limits Congress agrees to abide by for the year. If the president, a congressional leader, or an association like MOAA is looking for any big legislative initiative, the required budget amount needs to be accounted for within the budget resolution ceiling. Exceptions can be authorized, but that requires a 60-percent vote, which can be very hard to come by in a sharply divided Congress, especially in an election year.
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