Washington — Senate Republicans are moving forward with a more focused budget proposal that emphasizes defense, border security, and energy priorities, despite President Trump’s announcement on Wednesday to support an alternative plan proposed by House Republicans.
The Senate started a “vote-a-rama” on the GOP budget outline Thursday evening, allowing senators to propose an unlimited number of amendments, leading to a marathon of votes throughout the night. Once all amendment votes are concluded, a final vote on the budget resolution will occur, directing committees to submit their spending proposals by March 7.
With a three-seat majority, Senate Republicans are expected to have enough votes to pass the budget resolution; however, the vote-a-rama presents an opportunity for Democrats to compel their GOP counterparts to publicly address a range of politically sensitive topics. Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, the leading Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, warned Republicans on Wednesday to brace for a late night and a long morning.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican from South Dakota, supported the Senate’s strategy while wishing House Republicans luck in advancing their resolution.
“I think he’s made it clear for a long time that he would prefer one big, beautiful bill, and we’re okay with that too,” Thune remarked Wednesday, referring to the president. “If the House can deliver one big, beautiful bill, we’re ready to collaborate with them to push it across the finish line, but we believe that the president also values flexibility.”
The Senate’s budget resolution proposes an increase in military spending by $150 billion and border security funding by $175 billion, without extending the tax cuts from Mr. Trump’s first term that are set to expire at the end of the year. Senate Republicans aim to address tax cuts in a subsequent bill to make them permanent.
The House plan proposes $4.5 trillion in tax cuts, raises the debt ceiling by $4 trillion, and outlines at least $1.5 trillion in spending cuts. To appease conservatives, the House Budget Committee revised the resolution to tie tax cuts to spending reductions. If House committees do not achieve a minimum of $2 trillion in spending cuts, tax cuts would be decreased; conversely, tax cuts would increase if spending cuts exceed $2 trillion.
Mr. Trump’s endorsement of the House’s single-bill strategy marked a win for Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, and caught Senate Republicans off guard. Johnson has been attempting to balance the Senate’s two-bill approach while addressing the demands of his divided Republican conference and slim majority. House GOP leaders are uncertain about their ability to pass two separate bills with their narrow majority.
Senate Republicans, eager to swiftly address border and defense spending, deferred to their House counterparts for weeks but eventually released their own proposal after repeated delays in the House.
Last week, the Senate Budget Committee and House Budget Committee both approved separate plans. The House is currently in recess while the Senate continues to work on its resolution.
Ultimately, both chambers will need to adopt matching budget resolutions to proceed with the reconciliation process and implement Mr. Trump’s agenda. This process enables Senate Republicans to pass legislation with a simple majority.
Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, emphasized on Thursday before the votes that the Senate proposal serves as a backup if the House plan does not succeed. “I prefer what you’re doing to what we’re doing, but we need a Plan B if you can’t get it done soon.” Graham reiterated senators’ desire for permanent tax cuts.
“To my House colleagues, we will all get there together if you can pass that one big, beautiful bill that secures permanent tax cuts — not for just four or five years — then we’ll all celebrate over here,” he declared on the Senate floor. “Nothing would make me happier than for Speaker Johnson to assemble the bill that President Trump envisions. I want that to happen. However, I cannot simply wait on the sidelines without a Plan B.”
