Acting in quick succession, the House and Senate approved budgets drawn to President Barack Obama's specifications and pointing the way toward major legislation later this year on health care, energy and education.

"It's going to take a lot of work to clean up the mess we inherited, and passing this budget is a critical step in the right direction," Senate Democratic Majority Leader Harry Reid said.

"Staying true to these priorities will help turn around the economy for the many Americans who are underwater right now."

Republicans in both houses accused Democrats of drafting plans that would hurt the recession-ravaged economy in the long run, rather than help it, and saddle future generations with too much debt.

"The administration's budget simply taxes too much, spends too much and borrows too much at a moment when we can least afford it," said the Senate Republican leader, Mitch McConnell.

But a Republican alternative fared poorly in the House, where 38 Republican lawmakers voted against a plan supported by their own leadership.

On a long day and night, the House was first to vote, and approved its version of the budget on a 233-196 roll call that fell largely along party lines.

It calls for spending of USD 3.6 trillion for the budget year that begins Oct 1, and includes a deficit of USD 1.2 trillion.

The Senate acted a few hours later, voting 55-43 for a slightly different blueprint that calls for spending USD 3.5 trillion and forecasts a deficit of USD 1.2 trillion.

... contd.