Democrats avoid battle over entitlement spending
Medicare costs through at least 2013. Under law, Congress is required to consider the president’s recommendations on an expedited basis. The resolution that the House passed on Thursday suspends that requirement for the House. The resolution does not require Senate action to go into effect. Democratic lawmakers said the rule change was necessary because the 45-percent threshold was an arbitrary limit that would essentially force benefit cuts or shift more costs onto beneficiaries,…