Senate Republicans today introduced a 210-page alternative to the Democratic "extender" package that cuts the deficit by $55 billion over a decade, slashes spending by $113 billion, prevents Medicare physician-payment cuts for two-and-a-half years, and includes medical malpractice reforms. It includes all of the tax-break renewals in the Democratic proposal and would extend unemployment benefits through November. But it drops all of the tax increases in the Democrats' bill, the Build America Bonds program extension, and the $24 billion for state Medicaid funding. A vote could occur early next week, GOP aides said.
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