By LISA MASCARO, Related Press Congressional Correspondent
WASHINGTON (AP) — The finances decision from Republicans was on the agenda within the Senate, however the late-night debate encompassed a lot extra.
Democrats used the in a single day session that ended early Friday morning as a platform for his or her outrage over what President Donald Trump has wrought throughout his first month in workplace and their warnings of what’s nonetheless to come back.
From Trump adviser Elon Musk’s Division of Authorities Effectivity slicing by means of the federal workforce to Trump’s assaults on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the GOP plan to increase tax breaks together with for the rich and reduce security internet applications, way over the $340 billion finances framework on border safety and deportations got here underneath scrutiny.
Out of energy in Washington, D.C., the Democrats as a substitute dropped at the Senate ground pages of amendments, holding the chamber lengthy into Thursday evening and early Friday morning.
FILE – Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer of N.Y., calls on a reporter, Feb. 19, 2025, after a Senate coverage luncheon on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Picture/Jacquelyn Martin, File)
“People don’t send us here to make their lives worse. But that’s exactly what Trump and Musk are doing,” mentioned Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., launching the controversy. “They are looking at our most pressing problems — and making them so much worse. And this budget proposal will only add fuel to the fire.”
Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon, the highest Democrat on the Price range Committee, test-drove a brand new time period — “Trumpflation” — and requested what within the president’s “big, beautiful, bill” would assist Individuals.
“Take this plan and put it in the ‘woodchipper,’” Merkley mentioned, repurposing Musk’s quip about chopping up the federal authorities. “There’s nothing ‘beautiful’ about destroying programs families depend on.”
Because the “vote-a-rama” dragged into the wee hours Democrats proposed amendments to bar tax breaks for billionaires and millionaires, reverse DOGE firings of public employees and program cuts to authorities providers, protect Medicaid, assist Ukraine and on and on.
Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado supplied an modification to reinstate the fired federal workers on the Forest Service, Nationwide Park Service and different public lands businesses.
Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., sought to stop reductions in authorities applications combating avian flu at a time of hovering costs of eggs.
Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire needed to make sure the U.S. commits to supporting Ukraine within the battle towards Russia.
However none of them had been being authorised.
Nonetheless, Democrats most popular speaking about nearly something however Trump’s plans for deporting immigrants and beefing up border safety, the primary provisions of the $340 billion finances framework, which additionally consists of funding for the Pentagon and Coast Guard.
These immigration-related points divide the Democrats, who struggled throughout the fall election to counter Trump’s deportation plans and nonetheless haven’t fashioned a prepared response.
Republicans fortunately identified the disconnect as they marched their finances framework to passage. It was authorised, 52-48, on a largely party-line vote, a key step within the finances course of. One Republican, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, opposed it, as did all Democrats.
The package deal now should sync up with one from the Home, the place Speaker Mike Johnson is working up Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” with some $4.5 trillion in tax breaks and as much as $2 trillion in spending cuts.
Nearing dawn, when Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., supplied an modification to stop “unvetted and unaccountable” DOGE employees to entry Individuals’ non-public data in authorities databases, Republicans introduced it down on a voice vote, with a thundering no.
After the assorted prohibitions on billionaire tax breaks didn’t move, Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts tried to dam breaks for these incomes $10 million. It was turned again. Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona urged the cap be set at $100 million. It failed. Sen. Angus King of Maine tried $500 million. Nope.
GOP Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana assessed the entire night as similar to “professional wresting” and chided Democrats for drifting off matter. He mentioned the invoice was about border safety not the tax cuts, which might be addressed later.
In the beginning of the night, Sen. Bernie Sanders, a former chairman of the Price range committee, spent a while discussing his personal concepts, together with his plan to increase Social Safety advantages and prolong Medicare well being care protection to offer seniors with entry to dental, imaginative and prescient and listening to support advantages.
The Vermont senator mentioned it’s unacceptable that thousands and thousands of seniors can’t afford eyeglasses, listening to aids or dentures.
“That should not be happening in the United States of America in the year 2025,” Sanders mentioned.
Then he zeroed in on Trump’s exceptional suggestion it was Ukraine that began the conflict, moderately than Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of the nation in 2022.
“Really?” an incredulous Sanders requested, urging fellow senators to talk out. “That is, as I hope every member of the Senate knows, an absolute lie.”
