The U.S. House adopted a fiscal 2016 budget that would cut $5.5 trillion in federal spending and achieve balance in nine years while providing more defense spending than President Barack Obama has proposed.
In the 228-199 vote Wednesday, Republicans demonstrated that they continue to see political benefits and little disadvantage from making deep cuts to entitlement programs, including Medicare and Medicaid.
"What we've got is a level of debt that was only surpassed in World War II," Budget Committee Chairman Tom Price, a Georgia Republican, said on the House floor. "Our balanced budget for a stronger America is the way to go."