WASHINGTON — The House of Representatives approved a Republican-backed $3.5 trillion budget plan on Thursday.

The plan, introduced by Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, passed 228-191, a largely party-line vote that saw united Democratic opposition and only 10 defections among Republicans. All four Minnesota Republicans voted for the bill; all four Democrats cast votes against it.

The bill cuts spending and lowers tax rates and has drawn opposition from Democrats because of its proposed changes to Medicare. The plan is dead on arrival in the Senate, where Democrats hold a majority.

Despite the Senate's certain dismissal, the bill will play an important role in this fall's elections. Republicans will use the bill to position themselves as fiscally-responsible stewards of the economy while Democrats will hit them hard for voting to "end Medicare," a mantra the party employed last year after Republicans introduced a similar plan.

President Obama also introduced a budget plan, but the House defeated it Wednesday night. A series of other budget proposals, including a Democratic alternative and ones from coalitions like the conservative Republican Study Committee and the liberal Congressional Progressive Caucus, also failed.

Devin Henry can be reached at dhenry@minnpost.com.