"The U.S. House of Representatives passed hard-fought legislation Thursday that slices nearly $40 billion out of the government budget for the remainder of the fiscal year," the AP reports. "The Senate followed with its approval quickly, voting 81-19."

The New York Times: “Scores of House Republicans deserted their leadership to vote against the bill … saying it did not go far enough. As a result, Speaker John A. Boehner was forced to rely on large numbers of Democrats to pass the measure.”

“More than half the Democratic caucus split with President Obama and voted against the 2011 spending deal Thursday,” The Hill adds. “In the 260-167 vote, 108 of the no votes came from House Democrats, including Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).”

Rep. Paul Ryan’s (R-WI) controversial budget proposal will get a vote in the House today. The AP: “A bold but politically risky plan to cut billions of dollars from the federal budget is coming to a House vote, with insurgent Republicans rallying behind the idea of fundamentally reshaping the government's role in health care for the elderly and the poor.”

“Senate Democrats and the White House are pressuring Republican members of the Gang of Six to reach an agreement on a deficit-reduction package so it can be used as a credible alternative to the budget unveiled last week by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), according to Senate sources,” The Hill reports. Obama friend Dick Durbin, who’s a member of the Gang of Six said, “They’re impatient and I don’t blame them. Let’s look back at the healthcare debate. There was a study group there that never finished.”