Senate GOP Moves Forward with Budget Resolution to Advance Trump’s Agenda -

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February 18, Washinton: On Tuesday, the Senate GOP officially set the stage for a vote on its budget resolution later this week, aiming to push forward key elements of President Trump’s legislative agenda. The Senate voted 50-47 to initiate consideration of the resolution, which was advanced by the Senate Budget Committee just days earlier.

The budget resolution outlines the framework Republicans plan to use for the first part of their ambitious two-part strategy to advance Trump’s priorities. Central to this plan is the use of reconciliation, a process that bypasses the Senate filibuster and allows Republicans to move forward with the proposal without needing Democratic support.

The first part of the plan involves approximately $325 billion for various initiatives, including strengthening border security, implementing Trump’s deportation policies, boosting defense spending, and greenlighting energy projects. Republicans are also preparing a second reconciliation bill that will focus on extending Trump’s 2017 tax cuts.

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Tuesday’s vote marks the beginning of a lengthy and contentious process that will occupy much of the Senate’s attention this week. Following the vote, the chamber will proceed with 50 hours of debate, after which a “vote-a-rama” will take place an often grueling, marathon session where senators vote on a range of amendments. Many of these amendments will be put forward by Democrats, seeking to challenge Republican proposals and force politically sensitive votes.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has called on Democrats to use this opportunity to emphasize their concerns that the Republican plan prioritizes tax cuts for the wealthy at the expense of everyday Americans. Democrats are expected to push for amendments that highlight these accusations during the debate.

Meanwhile, in the House, leaders are advancing their own budget resolution. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and House Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith, have spearheaded efforts to combine defense spending, border security, and tax cuts into a single bill. This strategy reflects concerns that their slim majority may only afford them one chance to pass Trump’s agenda.

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In a statement, Johnson reiterated his focus on delivering Trump’s priorities: “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.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise echoed this sentiment, taking a subtle jab at Senate Majority Leader John Thune, emphasizing that all of Trump’s priorities would be included in the House’s upcoming bill.

As Senate Republicans continue to press forward with their two-bill plan, their goal is to quickly deliver key wins during Trump’s first 100 days in office, providing crucial funding for border security and bolstering the administration’s broader policy objectives. The coming days in the Senate are set to be critical in advancing these priorities.

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