Republicans maintain their commitment to cutting social programs. Is there really nothing we can cut other than health care, child support and school loans?
A tip of the hat must go to the five Republicans who showed some heart and voted against it: Lincoln Chafee (R.I.),
Gordon Smith (Ore.),Susan Collins (Maine), Olympia Snowe (Maine), and Mike DeWine (Ohio).

From Sojourners:

Many in the religious community cannot believe that leaders
could pass a federal budget cutting health care, child support,
and educational assistance to low-income families while further
lowering taxes for the wealthiest Americans and increasing the
deficit for our grandchildren. Making this decision just before
Christmas does not proclaim goodwill toward all. Although the
faith community played a strong role in preventing food stamps
from being cut in this budget, we cannot ignore the many other
cuts that could become a reality for many of the 36 million
people living in poverty in the U.S. Despite clear messages from
people of faith that the poor families and children with whom we
work need better policies and support, our political leadership
is missing the meaning of Christmas. Instead of filling the
hungry with good things and sending the rich away empty, this
budget process will only fill the rich with good things and send
the hungry away empty.

Bipartisan efforts to prevent severe budget cuts continue to
provide hope. Congressional leadership may cast today’s slight
change to the budget bill as a way to delay the inevitable. That
is not the case, and your voice can continue to have an impact.
Please keep doing the great work you have been doing all
year!

Make sure your member of Congress knows you are still
watching and praying. Call your rep today and urge them to vote against this bill.

Link: Cheney breaks Senate tie to pass budget bill – Yahoo! News.