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Article snippet: The House on Wednesday voted down two budget alternatives offered by two key Democratic factions as Republicans move forward with their proposal this week to establish a vehicle for tax reform. Substitute budgets offered by the Congressional Progressive Caucus and Congressional Black Caucus were both defeated in late evening votes. The House is expected to adopt the House GOP budget on Thursday. Both proposals to spend more money on social safety net programs stood in contrast to the House GOP budget, which would increase military spending and call for $203 billion in cuts to mandatory spending, including anti-poverty and agriculture programs. Neither budget would balance, but proponents say they would help reduce the deficit over time. The GOP budget would balance in 10 years. But it relies on certain assumptions, such as predicting the economy will grow at an average rate of 2.6 percent, that are not guaranteed to actually happen. The Black Caucus budget, which failed 130-292, proposed $1 trillion over the next five years for infrastructure and job training programs. It would seek to expand access to health care by adding a public option to the Affordable Care Act exchanges. It would also spend another $300 billion over 10 years on anti-poverty programs ranging from eliminating cuts for food stamps to extending unemployment insurance. The Black Caucus budget would further codify a proposal championed by Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) to ensure federal programs dire... Link to the full article to read more