Senate Republicans and their approval of a budget framework on mass deportations and security borders
By Andriani Maria Lamprinou
Today, the Senate Republicans passed a budget framework that will be used for mass deportation and the security borders after Democrats were unsuccessful in stopping them from making that decision.
Earlier today, Republican members of the Senate passed a $340 billion budget framework that the Trump administration says it will use towards mass deportation and the security borders agenda after fighting against Democratic opposition the whole night.
In an attempt to prevent the bill from being passed, Democrats continued suggesting amendments. However, this technique proved unsuccessful, with Republicans using their majority to approve the framework. According to an article by NBC10 Boston, the framework was passed after the vote process ended at 52-48.
The Democrats still persisted in a debate that lasted throughout the whole night in which they tried to force GOP Senators into “potentially embarrassing votes”, according to ABC News.
One of the amendments that was heavily repeated throughout the debate was the vote to prevent tax breaks for billionaires. Although the amendment failed, it was still successful in receiving some of the Republicans’ support.
According to Republicans, this framework is a down payment amount, which will later lead to the creation of legislation to extend around $4.5 trillion in tax breaks, as seen in an article by NBC10 Boston.
House Speaker Mike Johnson is also assembling another budget package that will lead to $2 trillion in reductions from health care and other programs, according to the same article by NBC10 Boston.
Until now, no money has started flowing because in order for this process to be carried out, more steps need to be fulfilled. It is known that the package will allow for up to $175 billion to be used in border security, as well as mass deportations and better construction of the U.S.-Mexico border wall, while $150 billion will be given to the Pentagon as a boost and $20 billion to the Coast Guard, according to an article by NBC10 Boston.
Since both the White House and the Congress are ruled by Republicans, the reconciliation process will be used for the budget’s resolution. But no one said this would be easy, as Republicans are debating amongst themselves on how to continue, with the White House and the Senate having different opinions on what they should use the money first.