Nightly News | February 19, 2011
>> washington could soon be facing its own show down in how to close the deficit. the house pulled an all-nighter last night before approving a spending plan that slashed $60 billion from the budget at the expense of programs and offices. mike vicara is at the white house .
>> reporter: good evening. republicans say it is what they were sent here to do. it adds up to a fight over spending that could lead to a government shut down.
>> for what purpose --
>> reporter: by the time it was all over ip the pre-dawn hours.
>> the bill is passed.
>> reporter: divided house voted to slash $61 billion from this year's budget.
>> the debt burden cannot be afforded.
>> reporter: driven by tea party conservatives, the bill would shrink programs geared to low income meshamericans and slash funding for environmental clean up. many democrats argue this is too much too fast.
>> this is an axe approach.
>> i hear that and what is axe is leaving the country with $43,000 for each american with national debt .
>> reporter: and it was zero out support for planned parenthood . on the house floor abortion opponent chris smith read a photographic account of the procedure yoo the doctor goes in with for sips.
>> i had a procedure at 17 yeeb weeks. i lost a baby. but for you to stand on this floor, and to suggest as you have, that somehow this is a procedure that is either welcomed, or done cavalierly or done without any thought, is preposterous.
>> reporter: the president has threatened to veto the entire bill. but the government runs out of money on march 4th .
>> a couple of weeks ago i would say we aren't going to have a shut down. but it seems like we may well be headed in that direction.
>> members were wheels up on their way home for a recess. that gives them five days to avoid a shout down and come to an agreement.