WASHINGTON — On Thursday, the Republican-led Senate moved forward with a 52-48 vote to commence discussions on a budget plan aimed at advancing President Donald Trump’s agenda through a multitrillion-dollar package.
The proposal includes significant tax reductions, an uptick in spending for immigration enforcement and military expansion, alongside unspecified cuts and an increase of $5 trillion in the debt ceiling, which is anticipated to considerably widen the budget deficit.
All Republicans supported the measure, with the exception of Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, while Democrats were unified in their opposition.
“The Senate Budget plan equips us with the necessary tools to accomplish our common priorities, which include certain PERMANENT Tax Cuts, Spending Cuts for Energy, Historic Investments in Defense, Border security, and much more,” Trump stated via social media on Wednesday.
Following the Thursday vote, there will be up to 50 hours of debate, succeeded by an unlimited amendment process before the anticipated vote on ratifying the budget blueprint this weekend. Democrats are set to introduce amendments designed to put Republicans in a challenging political position, such as prohibiting tax cuts for high earners and banning Medicaid cuts.
“You’ll see numerous amendments targeting Donald Trump and the Republicans on various issues where they favor billionaires over families,” remarked Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., to the press.
Holding a 53-vote majority in the Senate, Republicans are likely to dismiss the Democratic amendments and ultimately approve the budget resolution. Should the House pass a similar measure, it would direct committees to initiate work on a bill that bypasses the Senate’s 60-vote requirement, effectively excluding Democrats from the decision-making process.
The Republicans’ budget framework indicates their intent to employ an accounting method that evaluates the cost of making Trump’s 2017 tax cuts permanent at $0, despite a forecast from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office and Joint Committee on Taxation estimating it would actually cost $4.6 trillion.
Additionally, the plan accommodates an extra $1.5 trillion in tax cuts, granting the Senate Finance Committee leeway in deciding where those reductions might occur. GOP senators indicated to NBC News that they may utilize this to advance Trump’s other proposals, such as eliminating taxes on tips.
“It would include proposals the president has mentioned — like the tax on tips, among other things,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who chairs the Senate Budget Committee. “Making the tax cuts permanent will bolster the economy. Figuring out the baseline is my responsibility, not anyone else’s.”
The budget proposal also sets the stage for $175 billion in new funding for immigration enforcement aimed at executing mass deportations, along with a $150 billion increase in military funding.
A significant question remains regarding how many cuts Republicans will implement and their targets. The measure outlines only a few billion dollars in cuts, a minor figure compared to the tax reductions and spending increases it warrants.
“When addressing spending cuts, we’re not going to target Medicaid benefits — I concur with that — but there are numerous actions we can take,” Graham stated to reporters on Thursday, endorsing a “work requirement for able-bodied individuals” on Medicaid.
“We’re set to cut, I believe, trillions of dollars in spending,” he noted, although he did not specify how.
The budget resolution also stipulates a $5 trillion increase in the debt limit ahead of a deadline this year to act in order to avert a default on U.S. debt.
The vote experienced a slight delay on Thursday as Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., held a private meeting with some senators who had “questions” regarding the upcoming “process,” as reported by Sen. John Kennedy, R-La.
“I am aware that some senators have more questions. However, we’ve been engaged in this process since January, and the looming deadline sharpens the focus,” Kennedy remarked, suggesting it might be beneficial for Thune to proceed to the vote. “To compel certain senators to concentrate, it’s essential to hold a vote, providing them three options: they can vote yes, vote no, or flee.”
Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., mentioned leadership was not “twisting arms,” but that some members desired clarification on the processes, which extended the time before the vote could be finalized.
Democrats, lacking the votes to halt the progress unless four or more Republicans break ranks, aim to make this a politically challenging vote for the ruling party.
“The Democrats’ mission over the next 36 hours is to hold Republicans accountable, compelling them to reveal their true intentions regarding the American economy and their interpretation of fairness, which seems to benefit a small number of billionaires while leaving everyone else to struggle,” declared Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., to the media. “The Democrats are fully committed to this fight. We are ready.”
