The House passed the budget reconciliation bill early this morning (around 6:00 am) by a vote of 212 - 206. Nine Republicans opposed the bill along with all Democrats who voted. There were 10 Republicans and 6 Democrats who did not vote. In addition, there were 6 Republicans who opposed the House version of the cuts in this bill in November but supported the amended cuts this time. The bill cuts $39.7 billion from entitlement programs over the next five years, including child support, student loans, and Medicaid and Medicare. The cuts to food stamps have reportedly been removed. In order to pass the bill, the GOP leadership removed language opening the Artic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas drilling and attached that language to the Defense Appropriations bill, which also passed early this morning. The spending cuts bill now awaits Senate action early this week. UPDATE: OMB Watch Executive Director Gary Bass had this to say on the House budget vote: The second close vote in the House on the Budget Reconciliation bill in as many months represents yet another significant step backwards for our country. The conservatives cut spending for programs serving poor and moderate-income families, in order to pay for a seemingly unending thirst for more tax cuts for the wealthy. These are the absolutely wrong priorities. This vote showcased how the House of Representatives is increasingly captive to a radical minority of GOP members who are out of step with the values and needs of America. The end result will be an increased deficit and less support for the most vulnerable. That such a vote took place in the wee hours, right before the holidays, shows just how empty the phrase compassionate conservatism rings.