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The top House and Senate budget negotiators are returning to Washington early from congressional recess to begin to hash out a final fiscal blueprint agreement, several sources told Politico. ... But they still have to iron out some differences, including the size and scope of future domestic spending, how specific to go in wringing savings out of Medicare and how to use a powerful procedural tool that allows the Senate to pass legislation on a simple majority vote instead of the typical 60-vote threshold. (Bade and Sherman, 4/9)

A plan to eliminate Congress’s annual scramble to protect doctors from cuts to Medicare reimbursement was hailed as a triumph of bipartisanship when it sailed through the House of Representatives last month. But some Senate conservatives aren’t ready to give the bill a free pass through their chamber. (Garver, 4/9)