Republicans stood united last night, voting unanimously against the $3.5 trillion Democrat budget, which passed 55-43 in the Senate, just after the House approved it 233-196. The budgets still fell short of President Obama's mandate and a final version still remains to be completed. Two Democrat Senators -- Ben Nelson and Evan Bayh -- opposed the budget, as well as 20 House Democrats. Once again, the only thing biparitsan about this plan is on the side of the Republicans.

According to Politico, "the Senate plan calls for large, unspecified cuts of $221 billion from Obama’s requests for non-defense appropriations over the next five years. Unlike the House, no deadline is set for committee action on healthcare reform."

The Republican alternative proposed by Rep. Paul Ryan, ranking member on the Budget Committee, was defeated 293-137 in the House. But the symbolic stance that Republicans in both the House and the Senate stood firmly against the debt-laden budget plan is a step forward for the hopeful minority.