The U.S. Senate passed a Republican bill promoting President Donald Trump’s immigration, energy, and defense policies in the early hours of Friday morning, despite Trump’s preference for a House of Representatives version that includes trillions of dollars in tax cuts. The Senate’s resolution orders more spending on defense, immigration, and fossil fuels, with the vote tally at 52-48, with all Republicans except Senator Rand Paul supporting it. Trump backed the House Republicans’ plan for a single bill with tax cuts extending $4.5 trillion. The Senate’s bill is a backup in case House Republicans can’t agree on how to pay for the tax cuts without cutting funding for programs like Medicaid and Social Security or adding to the country’s debt. The Senate measure is a $340 billion budget resolution increasing spending by $85 billion per year for four years for security, deportations, energy deregulation, and military spending. Both chambers must pass the same budget resolution to enact Trump’s agenda. The House budget includes the same priorities with tax cuts, aiming to cover the cost through spending cuts and economic growth. Only two Republican amendments were adopted, aimed at reducing regulations, federal spending, and protecting Medicaid and Medicare. Senate Democrats, in the minority, opposed the budget plan by filing unsuccessful amendments and accusing Republicans of prioritizing tax breaks for the wealthy over American families. Many Democratic-sponsored amendments seeking to prevent tax cuts for the wealthy, maintain funding for healthcare, and protect seniors’ benefits were blocked.
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