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3w ago

Senate Advances Trump's Budget Plan in Marathon Vote-a-Rama

Republicans push to finalize amendments making 2017 tax cuts permanent and raising debt ceiling, as Democrats challenge social program cuts and tariffs.

A bird flies near the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 25, 2025. REUTERS/Nathan Howard/File Photo
Staffers wheel pizzas through the Capitol as the Senate prepares to begin its vote-a-rama on the GOP’s budget resolution on Friday evening.
Members on the Senate floor on Friday, April 4.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) speaks during a weekly Republican post-luncheon press conference at Capitol in Washington, on Tuesday, April 1, 2025. Some Republicans are uneasy that their party is pursuing a tactic that could weaken the filibuster and backfire in the future. (Eric Lee/The New York Times)

Overview

  • The Senate began its vote-a-rama on Friday night to finalize amendments to the House's budget resolution, a key step in advancing President Trump's domestic agenda.
  • Republicans aim to use the budget resolution to make Trump's 2017 tax cuts permanent and raise the debt ceiling by $5 trillion, bypassing the Senate filibuster through budget reconciliation.
  • Democrats are leveraging the vote-a-rama to introduce amendments targeting GOP positions on Medicaid cuts, Social Security reductions, and Trump's recent tariffs, which have faced criticism for economic impacts.
  • Senator Rand Paul was the sole Republican to oppose the motion to proceed, citing concerns over the debt ceiling increase included in the resolution.
  • Once the Senate approves its version of the resolution, it will return to the House for reconciliation before being implemented.