House Passes Budget Deal Despite GOP Defections

The struggle to control America's skyrocketing debt took center stage in the House of Representatives on Thursday as members approved a fiscal year 2011 budget deal reached last week by President Barack Obama,Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid,D-Nevada,and House Speaker John Boehner,R-0hio,.The measure,which also in expected to be taken up by Senate Thursday,passed the Republican-control chamber 260-167 vote. The bill would not have passed without support from members of both parties.Fifty-nine Republican voted no not the measure-raising questions about Boehner's ability to keep his conservative Tea Party-infused caucus unified in the race of politically perilous tax and spending negotiations with the Democrats.The vote also reflected growing liberal angst and anger over the impending spending reductions.Only 81 Democrats backed the measure;House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi,D-California,voted no.Under the deal,$38.5 billion would be from the budget for the remainder the fiscal year,which ends September 30,.Among other things,the package slashes funding from a wide range of domestic programs and services,including high-speed rail,emergency first responders,and the National Endowment of the Arts.As part of the agreement,Congress is also scheduled to vote Thursday on measures to de-fund Planned Parenthood and Obama's health care overhaul.While the bills are expected to pass the House,they have virtually no chance of clearing the Demoratic-controlled Senate.