US Senate begins push to pass border security bill lacking Trump's tax cuts

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Reuters

February 20, 2025 5:23 PM EST Updated an hour ago


WASHINGTON, Feb 20 (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate on Thursday began a debate on a Republican bill to advance President Donald Trump's priorities on immigration, energy and defense, even after he urged them to scrap that effort in favor of a House bill that would also include trillions of dollars in tax cuts. Trumpthis (sic) week came down firmly in favor of House of Representatives Republicans' plan for one sweeping bill.

Backers of that plan fear that passing an immigration bill first could diminish their chances of extending $4.5 trillion in tax cuts in the House, where his party holds a narrow and fractious 218-215 majority. Senate Republicans said they would nonetheless push ahead, seeking to bypass Democratic opposition in that chamber and secure an early legislative win for Trump. Democrats lack the votes to stop the bill, but have vowed to fight it as long as possible -- perhaps in a marathon session extending into Friday -- accusing Republicans of selling out American families to benefit the wealthy with tax breaks.

Democratic Senator Patty Murray of Washington state, a member of the Senate Budget Committee, framed her party's opposition. "Republicans are throwing all their effort behind a partisan plan to slash and burn programs that help our families and raise costs for everyday Americans and shovel billions of dollars to help people who already have billions of dollars," she said in a Senate speech. Republican Senate Budget Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham of South Carolina countered that the nation urgently needed to beef up its border security and military, saying the higher spending would be "offset with $342 billion of cuts in other parts of the government."

Indicating a long night ahead, Democratic Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia put the Senate on notice that he alone was seeking debate on about two-dozen amendments ranging from middle-class tax cuts to measures protecting federal workers from termination and social safety net programs from cuts. A Senate Democratic source said the party's first amendment would aim to prevent Republicans from granting tax cuts to those earning over $1 billion and thus reaping breaks of over $300,000 annually.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-senate-set-push-through-border-bill-lacking-trumps-tax-cuts-2025-02-20/

[LiberalArkie]

1. They seem to water it down for the D votes.. I still hope that no Democrat or Indy will only vote NYE on every

Republican bill. Never a bi-partisan bill.

I was going to say unless drafted by a Democrat. And could not as it may be drafted by a collaborator.