WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – The House passed the budget framework to allow Congress to move ahead with President Donald Trump’s agenda. The vote sets the stage for the president to extend his tax cuts and pay for his mass deportations of migrants.
The vote wasn’t a slam dunk for the GOP. Initially set for Wednesday, the speaker had to pull it because a group of Republicans said it did not include enough spending cuts.
After a lot of last-minute wrangling from GOP leaders only two Republicans voted against the budget resolution along with every Democrat.
“Every step of this process is going to be tough,” said Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.).
Some Republicans had refused to advance trillions of dollars in tax breaks without deeper spending cuts.
“Were you surprised we got the vote? We got the vote, and we’re happy to get the vote,” said Trump.
President Trump wants the budget plan to extend his 2017 tax cuts, fund mass deportations and reduce the size of the federal government.
“The president has made clear Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid will not take a hit so you can count on that,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.).
Democratic leaders still aren’t convinced about that.
“House Republicans plowed ahead on a morally and financially bankrupt plan to gut Medicaid while cutting taxes for billionaires,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).
Democrats argue the president and his allies in Congress lied to voters about lowering costs to get elected.
“Doing everything they can to tank our economy, drive us toward a recession and gut the healthcare of the American people,” said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.).
The budget plan would also raise the nation’s debt limit to allow more borrowing to pay the bills but Republicans in the House and Senate still disagree over what the ultimate amount should be.
