The Republican-controlled Senate approved a $340 billion budget blueprint focused on increasing funding for immigration enforcement, energy production, and the military. The final vote was 52-48, with only one Republican, Sen. Rand Paul, voting against the resolution. The passage puts pressure on the House to pass their own budget next week. The Senate plan includes money for the border, defense, and energy, while the House version includes a large tax cut and a debt limit increase. There is disagreement among Republicans about whether to pass Trump’s legislative priorities in one bill or two. Trump has endorsed the House version and called for a “one big, beautiful bill.” The Senate plan doesn’t renew Trump’s tax cuts and proposes to address spending cuts separately. The budget resolution instructs Senate committees to develop legislation that aligns with its goals, which can be passed with a simple majority. Democrats attempted to include amendments targeting GOP cuts to benefits and programs, but these were mostly rejected. Both chambers must pass an identical resolution to begin the reconciliation process, which may involve difficult negotiations on spending reductions. The timeline for passing a reconciliation bill is uncertain, with Vice President JD Vance suggesting it could happen in May or June. The complex legislative process involves balancing conservative demands for spending cuts with concerns about cuts to programs like Medicaid.
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