RI Sen. Whitehouse proud of Democratic budget

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse says he is proud of his role in crafting the first budget proposal that the Senate has passed in four years, as majority Democrats went on record favoring almost $1 trillion in tax increases over the coming decade while sheltering domestic programs targeted by Republicans in the House of Representatives.

The plan also proposes to reverse automatic spending cuts that are beginning to strike both the Pentagon and domestic programs. It passed by a near party line 50-49 vote in Saturday's pre-dawn hours.

Whitehouse says the budget proposal replaces automatic spending cuts mounting in Rhode Island with "balanced and responsible deficit reduction" that will help the economy grow.

Whitehouse says the budget invests in transportation infrastructure and support construction jobs as Rhode Island struggles with high unemployment and roads that are in poor condition.