Republicans Charge Ahead on Trump Budget, Setting Up Marathon Senate Votes

Senate Republicans forged ahead on Thursday, pushing toward a pivotal vote on the latest budget plan aimed at advancing President Donald Trump’s agenda. From border funding to making his 2017 tax cuts permanent, this budget is loaded with big-ticket items.

In a move signaling unity, the Senate agreed to a motion to proceed, with a 52-48 vote along party lines. The lone Republican outlier? Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, who stood firm against provisions related to the debt ceiling. Someone had to be that guy, right?

This version of the budget, shepherded by Senate Budget Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham, includes a controversial $5 trillion debt ceiling raise and permanently extends Trump’s tax cuts by using a current policy baseline. Essentially, it’s a numbers game that Washington loves to play.

Thursday’s motion paves the way for approximately a day’s worth of debate before the Senate dives into a “vote-a-rama” on Friday. If you’re unfamiliar, this quirky Senate tradition involves an unlimited number of amendments being introduced, often leading to a marathon of floor votes. Call it democracy’s endurance test.

Once the Senate wraps up its amended budget resolution, likely on Saturday, the House will need to revisit it. This reconciliation process is critical for Republicans, as it lowers the vote threshold in the Senate from 60 to 51, making it possible to bypass Democratic opposition entirely. For a party keen on delivering Trump’s priorities, this is the golden ticket.

Of course, the path to this point wasn’t without drama. House Republicans wanted a single reconciliation bill combining border funding and tax cuts, while Senate Republicans pushed for separate bills. In the end, Trump’s preference for a unified approach tipped the scales in favor of the House’s strategy. It’s clear who’s steering this ship.

As Republicans press on, the stakes couldn’t be higher. The marathon votes and debates ahead will test their unity, endurance, and ability to deliver on highly contentious issues. Love it or hate it, this is Capitol Hill at its most intense.