Senate braces for high-stakes vote on President Trump s budget bill
CNN: As the Senate enters a crucial vote-a-rama today, the destiny of President Donald Trump’s comprehensive budget package is still up in the air. The opposition is unified among Democrats. “A few billionaires get a big break while working people lose their Medicaid, and hungry kids lose access to food funding,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer in a harsh critique of the package.
The bill is supported by the majority of Republicans. According to Senate Majority Leader John Thune, this is a once-in-a-generation chance to pass legislation that would make America safer, stronger, and more prosperous. However, there is no assurance that the bill will pass. Republicans can only afford to lose three votes because of their narrow majority, and a number of senators are voicing their worries.
North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis has already stated that he will vote against it and retire at the conclusion of his term. In two or three years, when President Trump betrays his pledge to remove 663,000 individuals from Medicaid due to a lack of funds, what do I tell them? he questioned. The bill’s possible effects on the national deficit are another reason why Senator Rand Paul opposes it. Paul remarked, “I don’t think that sounds conservative at all.”
Others are looking for state-specific carve-outs, such as Lisa Murkowski of Alaska. Josh Hawley of Missouri says he will support the bill, but with reservations, and Senator Susan Collins of Maine is indicating that he intends to propose an amendment.
According to Hawley, we cannot continue to deny working-class and impoverished people access to healthcare in order to continue giving businesses preferential tax treatment.
