Senate Adopts Budget
- What happened: The Senate adopted a budget resolution after a five‑hour “vote‑a‑rama,” moving the process forward. - The key specific: The vote lets Republicans pursue funding steps for DHS and immigration enforcement without Democrats. - Context: The procedural win starts a marathon of reconciliation votes that lawmakers say could reopen DHS funding soon (cbsnews.com)(rollcall.com).
The Senate approved a budget resolution early Thursday, clearing the first formal hurdle for a Republican-only immigration funding bill. (cbsnews.com) The vote was 50-48 just after 3:30 a.m. Eastern, after about five hours of amendment votes known as a “vote-a-rama.” Republican Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska joined Democrats in opposing the resolution. (cbsnews.com) This resolution does not spend money by itself. It tells the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee to write a reconciliation bill, with each panel allowed to increase spending by up to $70 billion. (cbsnews.com) Republicans say the final package is expected to total about $70 billion, aimed at Immigration and Customs Enforcement and parts of Customs and Border Protection for roughly three and a half years, through the rest of President Donald Trump’s term. (cbsnews.com) Reconciliation is the budget process that lets a Senate majority pass certain tax-and-spending bills with 51 votes instead of the 60 usually needed to overcome a filibuster. That is why Republicans can move this package without Democratic support. (rollcall.com) The push comes after months of deadlock over Department of Homeland Security funding. Roll Call reported that Republicans want the reconciliation bill to help end a record-breaking partial shutdown at the department. (rollcall.com) Democrats used the overnight amendment marathon to force votes on immigration limits and cost-of-living issues. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Republicans were trying to spend “billions” on immigration enforcement “without any common-sense restraints or reforms.” (cbsnews.com) Republicans framed the vote as the start of a longer process, not the end of one. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said the resolution now goes to the House, and President Trump has set a June 1 deadline for the final bill to reach his desk. (cbsnews.com)
