Passage by both House and Senate of companion budget plans gave President Barack Obama and his allies on Capitol Hill a key victory, but the debates also exposed some of the president’s vulnerabilities.

Obama’s Democratic allies passed plans broadly supporting the young administration’s agenda of higher spending on domestic programs like education and overhauling the nation’s health care system. The $3.6 trillion House plan passed by a 233-196 vote Thursday.

But 20 House Democrats, mostly lawmakers representing GOP-leaning areas, abandoned Obama on the final vote. That reflected considerable unhappiness over unending deficits. Even after modest cuts to Obama’s budget, the House plan predicts a $598 billion deficit in five years, while the Senate plan would produce a $508 billion shortfall. By Andrew Taylor, Associated Press. Click here to read more.

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