Washington, D.C. ? Senate Democrats pushed a recession-era budget backed by the Obama administration through committee on Thursday after rejecting Republican attempts to cut spending and reduce mammoth deficits.

The 13-10 vote was along party lines in the Senate Budget Committee, and came as GOP critics sharpened their attacks on a plan that Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama derided as “the most irresponsible budget in the history of the Republic.”

The plan calls for spending of $3.5 trillion for the year that begins Oct. 1, and assumes a deficit of $1.2 trillion. It includes increases for hundreds of domestic programs and clears the way for major legislation later in the year on President Barack Obama’s priorities of health care, energy and education.

Despite their criticism, Senate Republicans have said they do not intend to propose an alternative to the Democrats’ budget, a decision that spares them the need to make politically difficult choices.