Senate Passes Democrats’ $3.5 Trillion Budget Plan, 50-49

Senate Democrats approved a $3.5 trillion budget plan bolstering family services, health care, job training and environment programs early on Wednesday morning.

The vote, 50-49, with no Republican support, passed the Senate just hours after the bipartisan infrastructure deal. The bill couldn’t reach the 60 vote threshold to avoid the filibuster, so it was passed via the Senate’s budget reconciliation mechanism.

While Republicans are strongly opposing the Democrats’ budget, just hours before, the chamber passed a $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure deal. Progressive Democrats in Congress like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vermont) are strongly supporting the new budget.

“The most important investment we can make is in the children of this country. That is exactly why we are going to make free pre-K for all working families a reality,” Sanders tweeted Sunday. “That is exactly why we are going to finally join every other major country and guarantee paid family leave.”

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) had to assure progressives that the Senate will continue to work for their priorities beyond the infrastructure bill.

“To my colleagues who are concerned that this does not do enough on climate, for families, and making corporations and the rich pay their fair share: We are moving on to a second track, which will make a generational transformation in these areas,” Schumer told the reporters.

On Tuesday, the Senate voted 69-30 to pass the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill. Following, the vote, President Joe Biden celebrated the bipartisan win.

“First of all, I want to thank the group of senators — Democrats and Republicans — for doing what they told me they would do,” Biden said during his press briefing Tuesday. “The death of this legislation was mildly premature, as reported. They said they were willing to work in a bipartisan manner, and I want to thank them for keeping their word. That’s just what they did.”

Article by Dongyoon Shin