The Senate GOP on Tuesday officially teed up a vote on its budget resolution for later this week in a bid to enact a portion of President Trump’s agenda.
Senators voted 50-47 to kick off consideration of the budget resolution, which the Senate Budget Committee advanced last week.
The resolution outlines guidelines Republicans would use to craft the first part of their ambitious, two-part plan to pass Trump’s legislative agenda. Republicans are aiming to use a process known as reconciliation, which bypasses the Senate filibuster and the need for Democratic votes.
The first portion would consist of roughly $325 billion to bolster border operations and allow Trump’s deportation plans to be executed, and to boost defense spending and greenlight energy plans. Senate Republicans are planning to use a second reconciliation bill to extend Trump’s 2017 tax cuts.
Tuesday’s vote sets up a lengthy process that will consume much of the chamber’s work this week. Following Tuesday’s vote, 50 hours of debate will take place and will be followed by a vote-a-rama — an often grueling, hours-long session where senators vote on amendments.
Many of those amendments will be brought forth by Democrats, taking advantage of a rare opportunity to force votes on the floor that could not happen otherwise and make Republican lawmakers take politically perilous votes.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) over the weekend urged Democrats to push amendments to amplify their accusations that Republicans are trying to slash benefits for everyday Americans to fund tax cuts for the wealthy.
The Senate is forging ahead with its budget resolution this week even as House leaders are doubling down on their own strategy.
The House last week advanced a separate budget resolution that would serve as the umbrella for a single bill that combines defense and border spending with an extension of the Trump tax cuts, along with other priorities.
This has been the preferred strategy of Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and House Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith (R-Mo.), who have concerns that they may only have one chance to pass the Trump agenda given their minuscule majority.
“We remain laser-focused on sending our bill to President Trump’s desk to secure the border, keep taxes low, restore American energy dominance, strengthen America’s military, and make government work better for all Americans,” Johnson wrote on the social platform X on Tuesday, shortly after Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) announced plans to move the upper chamber’s bill this week.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) had a similar sentiment, taking a veiled jab at Thune.
“All of Trump’s priorities in one big, beautiful bill start moving when we pass @RepArrington’s budget,” he wrote on X. “Let’s go Make America Great Again!”
Senate GOP lawmakers have plowed ahead on the two-bill plan as it would put points on the board in quick order during Trump’s first 100 days and unleash money for the White House’s border efforts.
“Border czar” Tom Homan appeared on Capitol Hill to appeal for that funding to be approved as soon as possible.
