A conservative effort to severely limit domestic programs was soundly defeated in the House last week. The so-called "Spending Control Act of 2004" failed by a vote of 146-268.

The appropriations process for FY 2005 doesn't lend itself well to periodic updates on which bills have been passed and who the winners and losers are. No one is even pretending that the House and Senate will debate and pass any of the 13 separate appropriations bills, or reconcile the two versions in conference -- the normal budget process. Rather, it has been clear from the start that an impossibly tight budget in an election year will dictate the process.

In an effort to restore spending in ten critical areas and lower the deficit, Rep. David Obey (D-WI) offered a resolution (H. Res. 685) on Thursday, June 24, to invest $14.2 billion in key domestic priorities and $4.7 billion towards reducing the deficit. The total $18.9 billion would be fully offset by limiting tax breaks to those making over $1 million a year.