 In response to the Republican plan and a recent deal on the 2011 budget , President Obama on April 13 , 2011 presented an alternative plan in a major policy speech . This new plan would cut deficits by $ 4 trillion over 12 years through a combination of broad spending cuts and tax increases , including the expiration of the Bush tax cuts for incomes over $ 200 @,@ 000 and proposed a cap on increases in Medicare and Medicaid spending , to be paid for by individuals . Obama criticized the Republican plan for enriching the wealthy through tax cuts while placing a greater economic burden on the elderly through Medicare cuts . Obama 's plan was criticized by Republicans for its large cuts in defense spending and for its lack of specific detail . On June 23 , at a hearing of the Budget Committee , CBO director Douglas Elmendorf was asked what his agency made of the proposals in that presidential address . “ We don ’ t estimate speeches , ” he said . “ We need much more specificity than was provided in that speech . " A motion to proceed on a Republican @-@ sponsored bill meant to represent the original Obama administration budget proposal was defeated in the Senate by a margin of 0 – 97 votes on May 25 , 2011 ; the lack of Democratic support was said to have been because the original budget had been superseded by Obama 's April speech . 
