A little more than a month after President Bush sent his FY 08 budget proposal to Congress, the Senate Budget Committee approved its own FY 08 budget resolution on a party line vote, 12-11.

The budget resolution provides for up to $50 billion to reach out to the estimated six million children who are eligible for health insurance but not currently enrolled in the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Members of both political parties in the Senate have indicated that this is a top priority for 2007.

In an attempt to reign in the costs of the Medicare program, the resolution seeks $15 billion in savings from a reduction in provider payments. This will be done by improving efficiency, quality, and value, as well as reducing fraud, waste, and abuse in the program.

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