Democrat Budget Alternative. The Democrats’ proposed substitute for the 2001 Budget Resolution would provide for $616 billion in discretionary spending in 2001, create a reserve fund of $40 billion over five years for Medicare prescription drug benefits, and allot $58.9 billion over five years for tax cuts. (The Republican version calls for $600.5 billion in discretionary spending, $40 billion over five years for Medicare prescription drug benefits, and $147.1 billion over five years for tax cuts.) Senator Pete Domenici (R-NM) summed up what he saw as the major difference between the two versions saying, "We think this is not the time to grow Government that much, but, rather, leave a little more … for tax relief for the American people." This is not to say, as Domenici would argue, that the GOP version was worthy of support either; it simply was not as bad as the Democrat alternative.
The Democrats’ budget substitute for Senate Concurrent Resolution 101 was rejected on April 7, 2000 by a vote of 45-55 (Roll Call 71). We have assigned pluses to the nays.
