Vice President Vance Breaks Senate Tie On $9b Spending Rollback

The Senate voted Tuesday, July 15, to beforehand a $9 cardinal rescissions bill backed by President Donald Trump. The authorities would cancel antecedently approved backing for overseas assistance and nationalist broadcasting. It passed 51-50, pinch Vice President JD Vance casting nan tie-breaking vote.

Three Republicans — Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Mitch McConnell of Kentucky — joined each Democrats successful voting no.

The package includes $1.1 cardinal successful cuts to nan Corporation for Public Broadcasting and billions much from overseas assistance programs.

Republicans position nan measurement arsenic a first measurement toward broader fund reductions. Democrats pass it could undermine captious services and early bipartisan spending negotiations.

Why are immoderate Republicans opposed?

Opponents raised concerns complete some nan process and deficiency of specifics.

Murkowski criticized nan administration’s top-down attack and said lawmakers weren’t fixed capable item astir what would beryllium cut.

Collins objected to defunding PBS and NPR, informing agrarian stations could suffer captious emergency broadcasting capabilities.

Sen. Roger Wicker, who voted successful favor, urged nan management to supply much clarity if akin packages are projected again. “Let’s not make a wont of this,” he said.

What changes were made to summation support?

To unafraid further Republican votes, Senate leaders removed $400 cardinal successful projected cuts to PEPFAR, a world HIV/AIDS alleviation program. Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., supported nan measure aft nan White House agreed to redirect backing for tribal power stations done nan Department of nan Interior.

The Senate’s changes mean nan measure must return to nan House for different vote. Lawmakers must o.k. nan measure by Friday, July 18, aliases nan management must merchandise nan stiff funds.

How person Democrats responded?

Democrats unanimously opposed nan bill, arguing that nan projected savings are mini compared to nan GOP tax-and-spending measure passed earlier this month. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said nan cuts would harm spot successful bipartisan budgeting.

“We are doing everything we tin — everything we tin to support nan bipartisan appropriations process going forward,” Schumer said.