Senate ‘vote-a-rama’ begins, paving way for Trump budget resolution
The Senate recently began a marathon voting series in order to approve their changes to the House’s plan for President Donald Trump’s budget. The lengthy amendment votes came after a day of intense debate, with Republicans passing a key motion to kick off the process.
During the “vote-a-rama,” senators from both parties can introduce an unlimited number of amendments, providing an opportunity for Democrats to challenge Republicans on various issues, including Trump’s tariffs and the actions of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) led by Elon Musk.
On Thursday, the Senate agreed on a motion to proceed along party lines, with the exception of Senator Rand Paul, who voted against it due to concerns about the provision on the debt ceiling. The budget amendment would raise the debt ceiling by up to $5 trillion, a move that has sparked debate among lawmakers.
The voting series is expected to last for an indefinite amount of time, depending on the number of amendments that receive votes and when Senate leadership can reach a time agreement. Once the voting concludes, there will be a final vote to approve the Senate’s amendment to the House’s budget, which will then need to return to the lower chamber for final approval.
One of the key provisions in the Senate’s budget amendment is making Trump’s tax cuts permanent by utilizing a current policy baseline determined by Budget Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham. This move has sparked further discussion among Republicans about the best strategy for budget reconciliation.
Overall, the marathon voting series in the Senate represents a crucial step in the process of approving Trump’s budget changes. The outcome of these votes will have significant implications for the country’s financial future and will shape the direction of government spending in the years to come.
