The US Senate voted in the wee hours of Saturday morning to pass a wide-ranging budget resolution paving the way for making Trump’s first-term tax cuts permanent, increasing border security, and restoring defense spending. It was a big step, and the resolution heads to the US House in what is still a long process.
The “blueprint,” as it is being called, lays the foundation for a yet-to-be-written bill to make permanent the tax relief implemented under President Donald Trump’s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. It also authorizes an additional $1.5 trillion in new tax reductions to stimulate economic growth.
In a surprise development, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska voted in favor of the resolution on final passage, in an increasingly rare moment of aligning with her Republican colleagues. That left only two GOP senators — Rand Paul of Kentucky and Susan Collins of Maine — breaking ranks to vote against the measure, although they did for differing reasons.
The final vote came after a long night of debate, as Democrats launched a delaying tactic of offering amendment after amendment to stall passage of the resolution and inflict as much pain as possible on the Republican majority. Despite their efforts, Republicans remained united past midnight in pushing forward a plan that would deliver on key Trump promises.
Among the amendments rejected during the session was a Democrat measure to bar Pentagon officials from using commercial messaging apps like Signal to discuss classified operations. That amendment was directed at Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who recently came under fire by Democrats and their media allies for using the encrypted Signal app to discuss sensitive military planning.
Republicans also rejected Democrat proposals that would have blocked tax breaks for top earners and large corporations.
Some nonbinding Democrat amendments were voted down, such as one that condemned the Trump Administration’s idea of closing the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which had become politicized under the Biden Administration, and his temporary freeze on military aid to Ukraine.
The resolution as passed raises the federal debt ceiling by $5 trillion, a move aimed at avoiding a catastrophic default this summer. The current debt ceiling is $36.1 trillion; without an increase, the government can no longer borrow, which would threaten payments on interest payments to bondholders.
The Republican-led plan also has $521 billion in new spending, including $175 billion earmarked for border enforcement and $150 billion for the military.
The vote is another step in the budget reconciliation process, having cleared the hurdle of the Democrats’ objections. The passage means the Senate can now pass budget-related bills with a simple majority, without having to endure filibusters by the Democrats and without needing 60 votes, but just a simple majority, which will sideline some of the Republicans who normally vote with Democrats, such as Murkowski and Collins.
But the challenge is that the House and Senate must approve identical budget resolutions directing congressional committees to draft the actual legislation, which will take several months.
It’s a momentary victory for Republicans and Trump in a complicated budget reconciliation process that few Americans understand.
And I hope every single person on here who claims to be worried about the national debt is also against making these tax cuts permanent.
My theory is that Senator Murkowski only voted yes to persevere her seat on the Senate Appropriations Committee. Handing out political pork to the favored and fashionable is very addicting. Perhaps, some day, Alaskans will ask how, if at all, the average Alaskan benefits from the goodies.
“Preserve” not “persevere”.
Suzanne is one of those few Americans who does understand the federal budget process. Thanks for a clear and cogent explanation.
I am honestly surprised by Lisa’s vote in support of this legislation. I would have expected her to veto it, solely because it contains items that fund and promote President Trump’s agendas. Princess occasionally does act on behalf of America, apparently.