WASHINGTON -- The Senate last week passed a five-year deficit-reduction bill that would save $35 billion in federal funds over the next five years.

The budget reconciliation legislation was passed by a 52-47 vote, with five Republicans opposed and two Democrats in support.

The bill allows opening part of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and cuts payments to farmers and college students. It also provides relief to Hurricane Katrina victims in the Gulf region.

Republicans said the measure is the first step toward reducing the national deficit, which is estimated to be $1.6 billion.

But Democrats criticized program cuts in social services for low-income Americans, including a reduction in prescription drug spending.

The House has drafted a $53.9 billion bill, which includes controversial provisions allowing offshore drilling of oil and gas and cutting funding for Medicaid and food stamps.

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., voted against the budget reconciliation bill. Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., voted for it.

Arctic refuge

The Senate rejected a bid by Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., to remove language from the bill that directed the government to begin selling oil leases in the refuge.

Republicans included the refuge language in the budget measure because, unlike other legislation that comes before the Senate, provisions in the budget bill are immune from filibusters, which require 60 votes to overcome.

Cantwell's bid to strip the provision was rejected, 48-51.

Supporters said the Alaskan oil would wean America from dependence on foreign oil, provide relief at the gas pumps and create nearly 300,000 jobs.

Democrats called the plan a "gimmick" that could destroy wildlife land. They charged the oil pumped from Alaska would do little to relieve high energy prices or give the United States energy independence.

The House has a similar provision in its budget reconciliation measure, but it was unclear whether GOP leaders would remove it because of opposition.

Reid voted against drilling in the refuge. Ensign voted for the drilling.

Property Rights rules

House lawmakers voted to withhold funding from local governments that seize private property from unwilling sellers for economic-development projects.

Lawmakers voted 376-38 for legislation that would deny federal grants for economic-development projects where local entities take private property.

The measure won overwhelming approval in the House in response to a Supreme Court ruling last June that allowed local governments to use eminent domain authority to take land for commercial enterprises. Bill supporters said the court weakened private-property rights by ruling in favor of government over individuals. They argued the Fifth Amendment only allows the government to take private property for "public good" projects such as roads, schools and community buildings.

Critics said the federal government should not meddle in local affairs.

Democrat Shelley Berkley and Republicans Jim Gibbons and Jon Porter voted to withhold funding.

Iraq Resolution

Democrats unsuccessfully tried to force the House to consider a resolution condemning Republicans for failing to carry out oversight of the war in Iraq.

Lawmakers voted 220-191 to reject the resolution offered by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California.

House Democrats offered the resolution two days after Democrats in the Senate forced a closed session to demand the GOP-led Intelligence Committee finish its investigation into the Bush administration's reasoning for war.

Democrats said they wanted answers about intelligence used by the administration. Republicans called the maneuver a political stunt.

Gibbons and Porter voted to set aside the resolution. Berkley voted for the House to consider it.