CNN
—
Senate Republicans have made a significant move to support President Trump’s ambitious agenda. Early Friday morning, they passed a budget blueprint. This step creates tension with House Republicans, who have their own plan.
The vote took place during an unusual overnight session in the Senate. Starting Thursday evening, senators worked almost ten hours, finishing around 5 a.m. ET. The final count was 52 to 48, with Senator Rand Paul breaking ranks with Republicans to oppose the resolution.
During this late-night session—dubbed “vote-a-rama” by lawmakers—Democrats aimed to challenge Republicans on hot-button issues. Topics included the war in Ukraine and the controversial Department of Government Efficiency, as well as Medicare and Medicaid protections.
While the budget resolution is not legally binding, it sets the stage for Senate Republicans to pass laws along party lines using a process called reconciliation. This approach allows them to move forward with what they hope will be key legislative successes.
Trump has backed the House’s more extensive budget plan, but that didn’t deter Senate Republicans from pushing theirs forward. This illustrates the ongoing challenges House and Senate Republicans face due to their slim majorities and differing strategies.
Both chambers will need to come to an agreement on their different budget approaches. However, even if they do agree, drafting the actual legislation will likely involve complex negotiations that could take months, further revealing divisions within the GOP.
The Senate’s budget aims to increase funding for immigration control, national security, and energy production. Meanwhile, House Republicans want to tackle all major party issues in one go, including tax policy, which Senate Republicans prefer to handle later.
Trump has urged both chambers to pass the House plan, emphasizing that it fully aligns with his “America First” agenda. At the same time, he expressed appreciation for Senate Republicans’ efforts regarding the border agenda during the overnight voting session.
During the lengthy overnight session, Senate Democrats used the opportunity to make Republicans take tough votes on critical issues. They aimed to showcase GOP stances on topics like wealth inequality and support for Ukraine. Some Republican senators even sided with Democrats on particular amendments.
For instance, Senator Susan Collins supported an amendment to prevent tax cuts for billionaires while food prices are high, and Senator Josh Hawley supported a measure intended to reduce housing costs. However, neither amendment passed.
Democrats also attempted to promote an amendment supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression. This initiative, however, received no Republican support and ultimately failed.
On a lighter note, senators found different ways to keep busy during the marathon session. Senator Thom Tillis, for example, brought a big bowl of popcorn into the Republican cloakroom. Others, like Senator Markwayne Mullin, engaged followers with virtual Capitol tours while managing their duties.
Mullin, who also oversees the Senate’s “candy desk,” joked about the feedback he received for his St. Patrick’s Day-themed treats. He quipped, “I think I’m going to have to pivot to Easter.”
As the night unfolded, senators chatted with each other, caught up on their phones, read documents, and worked on various amendments, making the best of a long and challenging night.
This report was contributed by CNN’s Manu Raju, Sarah Ferris, and Lauren Fox.
