Senate Approves 1980 Budget

The Senate yesterday approved a $546.3 billion budget for fiscal 1980 which may mark a shift in priorities from domestic programs to increased military spending.

The Senate budget, which would boost federal spending by 10.1 per cent over the current fiscal year, contains a three-per-cent defense spending increase. The budget also calls for five-per-cent nonbinding increases in defense spending in fiscal 1981 and 1982.

The Senate approved the defense spending hikes by a 62-36 vote after agreeing to force $3.6 billion in savings, mostly from social programs.

Up and away

Under the Senate's proposed budget, the deficit would rise to $31.6 billion, compared with the expected 1979 figure of approximately $30 billion.

The Senate budget committee said it hoped to keep the 1980 deficit below the 1979 figure.

The budget passed as the House began work on its own spending package for fiscal 1980, which begins October 1.

A conference committee will discuss differences between the two before binding spending limits are set.