The Senate approved the Republican budget blueprint by a 51-48 vote, largely along party lines, after an overnight session prompted by Democratic protests. This crucial step enables Republicans to expedite budget legislation through Congress, bypassing a filibuster via reconciliation. Weeks of internal Republican disagreements were resolved with a complex compromise.
Senators Rand Paul and Susan Collins were the only Republicans opposing the measure. Senate Majority Leader John Thune highlighted the budget's aim to make 2017 tax cuts permanent and invest in border, national, and energy security.
The budget blueprint now moves to the House for approval before lawmakers begin drafting specific tax and spending cut legislation.
The Senate approved Republicans’ budget blueprint just after 2:30 a.m. on Saturday to clear the way for passing President Trump’s domestic agenda, after Democrats forced an overnight session to protest the G.O.P. push to deliver what the president has called “one big beautiful bill” of spending and tax cuts.
The 51-to-48 vote, mostly along party lines, was a crucial step in the Republican effort to fast-track budget legislation through Congress and shield it from a filibuster through a process known as reconciliation. Disagreements between Republicans in the House and the Senate about what should be in that bill had paralyzed them for weeks, but they have forged a fragile and complex compromise allowing them to move forward.
Senators Rand Paul of Kentucky and Susan Collins of Maine were the only Republicans who voted to oppose the measure.
The budget blueprint goes next to the House, which must adopt it before lawmakers in both chambers can set to work drafting the legislation laying out the specific tax and spending cuts they want to enact.
“This resolution is the first step toward a final bill to make permanent the tax relief we implemented in 2017 and deliver a transformational investment in our border, national and energy security,” said Senator John Thune of South Dakota, the majority leader, before the vote.
He added later, “Let’s let the voting begin.”
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