In a close vote on Friday morning, the Senate passed a major budget resolution that lays the groundwork for extending tax cuts and ramping up border security spending. The final vote was 51–48, with two Republicans joining Democrats in opposing the plan.
Here’s what the plan includes:
- A permanent extension of the 2017 tax cuts
- $175 billion in new funding for border security
- An increase of up to $5 trillion in the federal debt ceiling
This resolution is just the first step. It allows lawmakers to use a special process called “budget reconciliation,” which lets certain bills pass in the Senate with a simple majority—avoiding the usual 60-vote hurdle.
Who voted against it and why?
Republican Senators Rand Paul (Kentucky) and Susan Collins (Maine) broke ranks and voted “no.”
- Paul raised alarms about the rising national debt.
- Collins had broader concerns about the package’s contents.
Throughout the long session, senators debated and voted on several amendments touching on federal spending and trade—but none directly addressed the new border security funding.
Supporters of the plan, like Senator Mike Crapo (Idaho), stressed that programs like Medicare and Medicaid won’t be affected. “Any changes must protect the benefits people currently get,” Crapo said.
Still, watchdog groups are worried. The Committee for a Responsible Budget warned that the plan could add up to $5.8 trillion to the national deficit if no changes are made.
Senator Paul echoed those concerns, saying, “This could become one of the biggest debt expansions in American history.”
Despite these warnings, Senate leaders said this plan gives Congress room to fine-tune spending and taxes in the next round of negotiations. The real details will come during the reconciliation process, which kicks off soon.
Over in the House of Representatives, some lawmakers are also raising concerns about the budget’s long-term impact on spending and the deficit. More debates are expected as both the House and Senate work toward final legislation.
Bottom line:
The Senate just cleared a key procedural hurdle. Now the real work begins, as lawmakers dive into negotiations on tax cuts, spending, and national priorities for the months ahead.
