Today's News: Senate GOP Passes Budget Resolution
Senate Republicans passed a $340 billion budget blueprint, setting up a conflict with House Republicans, who favor a more expansive bill that also includes tax cuts and deficit expansion.
Photo: Tom Williams / CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
Overview
Date: February 20-21, 2025
Topic: Senate GOP Passes Budget Resolution, Setting Up Clash with House Republicans
Summary: Senate Republicans have passed a $340 billion budget blueprint aimed at advancing President Donald Trump's legislative agenda, particularly in border security, military funding, and energy production. The passage sets up a significant conflict with House Republicans, who favor a more expansive bill that also includes sweeping tax cuts and deficit expansion. The Senate resolution is seen as a more immediate step to secure funding for Trump's priorities, while the House plan attempts to address multiple issues in a single package. The budget resolution does not carry the force of law but enables Republicans to use the reconciliation process, which allows for passing legislation with a simple majority. The resolution passed in a 52-48 vote, with Sen. Rand Paul being the lone Republican opposition. Democrats used the overnight "vote-a-rama" process to force difficult votes on amendments related to Ukraine, tax cuts for billionaires, and Medicaid protections, most of which were rejected. The House and Senate must now reconcile their approaches, though disagreements over spending cuts and tax policies could delay or derail the process.
Sources
The New York Times: Senate G.O.P. Passes Budget Resolution, and Punts on Tough Questions
Fox News: Senate border budget triumphs after all-night session while Trump-backed House bill lags
Wall Street Journal: Senate Passes Budget Resolution After All-Night ‘Vote-a-Rama’
Note: The Washington Post did not have any reporting on the Senate budget vote this morning.
Key Points
Senate Republicans passed a $340 billion budget resolution focusing on border security, defense, and energy.
The resolution enables Republicans to use the reconciliation process to pass legislation without Democratic support.
House Republicans favor a broader bill that includes major tax cuts, leading to an intra-party conflict.
Trump endorsed the House version but also praised the Senate's efforts.
Democrats forced votes on contentious amendments during an all-night "vote-a-rama," exposing GOP divisions on tax cuts and Medicaid.
Unique Highlights
CNN highlighted that Senate Republicans seek to score an early win on border security before addressing tax cuts.
The New York Times noted that the Senate bill includes $175 billion for border security and $150 billion for military spending but defers decisions on how to fund these increases.
NBC News emphasized that the House plan includes a $4.5 trillion tax cut and a $4 trillion debt limit hike, which the Senate plan does not address.
Fox News framed the Senate resolution as a “win” for Senate Republicans over House Republicans, portraying the House bill as struggling.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the budget includes $342 billion in offsetting spending cuts over four years.
Contrasting Details
CNN and NBC News noted that Trump endorsed the House plan but still supported the Senate's efforts, while Fox News suggested Trump was not concerned about Senate Republicans proceeding with their version.
The New York Times focused on how Senate Republicans "punted" on difficult fiscal decisions, while Fox News and WSJ framed the bill as a proactive step toward securing Trump’s agenda.
NBC News reported that House Speaker Mike Johnson declared the Senate bill "dead on arrival" in the House, while Fox News and WSJ suggested it might serve as a backup if the House bill fails.
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