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Senate Votes Yes on $9B Spending Cuts 07/16 06:18
Senate Republicans on Tuesday advanced President Donald Trump's request to
cancel some $9 billion in previously approved spending, overcoming concerns
from some lawmakers about what the rescissions could mean for impoverished
people around the globe and for public radio and television stations in their
home states.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Senate Republicans on Tuesday advanced President Donald
Trump's request to cancel some $9 billion in previously approved spending,
overcoming concerns from some lawmakers about what the rescissions could mean
for impoverished people around the globe and for public radio and television
stations in their home states.
The Senate vote was 50-50, with Vice President JD Vance breaking the tie.
A final vote in the Senate could occur as early as Wednesday. The bill would
then return to the House for another vote before it would go to Trump's desk
for his signature before a Friday deadline.
Republicans winnowed down the president's request by taking out his proposed
$400 million cut to a program known as PEPFAR. That change increased the
prospects for the bill's passage. The politically popular program is credited
with saving millions of lives since its creation under then-President George W.
Bush to combat HIV/AIDS.
The president is also looking to claw back money for foreign aid programs
targeted by his Department of Government Efficiency and for the Corporation for
Public Broadcasting.
"When you've got a $36 trillion debt, we have to do something to get
spending under control," said Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D.
The White House tries to win over skeptics
Republicans met with Russ Vought, the director of the White House Office of
Management and Budget, during their weekly conference luncheon as the White
House worked to address their concerns. He fielded about 20 questions from
senators.
The White House campaign to win over potential holdouts had some success.
Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., tweeted that he would vote to support the measure
after working with the administration to "find Green New Deal money that could
be reallocated to continue grants to tribal radio stations without
interruption."
Some senators worried that the cuts to public media could decimate many of
the 1,500 local radio and television stations around the country that rely on
some federal funding to operate. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting
distributes more than 70% of its funding to those stations.
Maine Sen. Susan Collins, the Republican chair of the Senate Appropriations
Committee, said she was particularly concerned about a lack of specifics from
the White House.
"The rescissions package has a big problem -- nobody really knows what
program reductions are in it," Collins said. "That isn't because we haven't had
time to review the bill. Instead, the problem is that OMB has never provided
the details that would normally be part of this process."
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, said she didn't want the Senate to be going
through numerous rounds of rescissions.
"We are lawmakers. We should be legislating," Murkowski said. "What we're
getting now is a direction from the White House and being told: 'This is the
priority and we want you to execute on it. We'll be back with you with another
round.' I don't accept that."
Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., Collins and Murkowski joined with Democrats in
voting against the Senate taking up the measure.
McConnell said he wanted to make clear he didn't have any problem with
reducing spending, but agreed with Collins that lawmakers didn't have enough
details from the White House.
"They would like a blank check is what they would like. And I don't think
that's appropriate," McConnell said.
But the large majority of Republicans were supportive of Trump's request.
"This bill is a first step in a long but necessary fight to put our nation's
fiscal house in order," said Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo.
Democrats warn of the consequences
Democrats warned that it's absurd to expect them to work with Republicans on
bipartisan spending measures if Republicans turn around a few months later and
use their majority to cut the parts they don't like.
"It shreds the appropriations process," said Sen. Angus King, an independent
from Maine who caucuses with Democrats. "The Appropriations Committee, and
indeed this body, becomes a rubber stamp for whatever the administration wants."
Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said that tens of millions of
Americans rely on local public radio and television stations for local news,
weather alerts and educational programs. He warned that many could lose access
to that information because of the rescissions.
"And these cuts couldn't come at a worse time," Schumer said. "The floods in
Texas remind us that speedy alerts and up-to-the-minute forecasts can mean the
difference between life and death."
Democrats also scoffed at the GOP's stated motivation for taking up the
bill. The amount of savings pales compared to the $3.4 trillion in projected
deficits over the next decade that Republicans put in motion in passing Trump's
big tax and spending cut bill two weeks ago.
"Now, Republicans are pretending they are concerned about the debt," said
Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash. "So concerned that they need to shut down local
radio stations, so concerned they are going to cut off 'Sesame Street.' ... The
idea that that is about balancing the debt is laughable."
What's ahead in the Senate
With Republicans providing enough votes to take up the bill, it sets up the
potential for 10 hours of debate plus votes on scores of potentially thorny
amendments in what is known as a vote-a-rama. The House has already shown its
support for the president's request with a mostly party line 214-212 vote, but
since the Senate is amending the bill, it will have to go back to the House for
another vote.
Republicans who vote against the measure also face the prospect of incurring
Trump's wrath. He has issued a warning on his social media site directly aimed
at individual Senate Republicans who may be considering voting against the
rescissions package. He said it was important that all Republicans adhere to
the bill and in particular defund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
"Any Republican that votes to allow this monstrosity to continue
broadcasting will not have my support or Endorsement," he said.
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