Advertisement

Senate passes first joint congressional budget in six years

By Andrew V. Pestano
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., heads the Senate chamber of legislature controlled by Republicans. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI.
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., heads the Senate chamber of legislature controlled by Republicans. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI. | License Photo

WASHINGTON, May 6 (UPI) -- The Republican-controlled Senate passed the first joint congressional budget agreement in six years on Tuesday after the House approved it last week.

The budget passed along party lines in the Senate with a 51 to 48 vote with only two Republicans voting no. Every Democrat voted against it.

Advertisement

The proposal seeks to balance the budget and cut spending by $5.3 trillion without increasing taxes by cutting programs like child nutrition assistance, welfare, food stamps, public housing and low-income heating assistance by about $820 billion over a 10-year period.

"No budget will ever be perfect, but this is a budget that sensibly addresses the concerns of many different members," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said on Tuesday.

Rand Paul of Kentucky and Ted Cruz of Texas are the Republicans who voted against the resolution because they believe it does not do enough to shrink government and cut spending. They are both GOP presidential candidates for the 2016 election.

Democrats largely disagree with notions of reducing spending without raising taxes and of cutting programs.

Advertisement

"The budgets put forward by the House and Senate Republicans disinvest in America, hurt the middle class, threaten retirement security for our seniors, and use gimmicky accounting tricks to falsely claim balance," top House Budget Committee Democrat Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., previously said about the budget proposal. "Simply put, it is a short-sighted plan that makes it harder for families to achieve the American dream."

Latest Headlines