Senate OKs ‘blueprint’ for budget

THE SENATE has passed a $4 trillion budget blueprint with a 51-49 vote, paving the way for President Trump’s ambitious promises of “massive tax cuts and reform.”

Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky voted against the measure along with all 48 Democrats, setting the stage for debate later this year to dramatically overhaul the U.S. tax code.

After the GOP-led effort to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, Republicans are under pressure to pass a bill on tax reform.

The overhaul would lower rates for individuals and corporations while clearing away trillions of dollars’ worth of deductions and special-interest tax breaks.

The tax cuts would add up to $1.5 trillion to the deficit over the coming decade, however, as Republicans shelf worries about the growing budget deficit in favor of a once-in-a-generation opportunity to rewrite tax laws.

When reconciled with the House budget plan, the nonbinding measure would set up special procedures to pass follow-up tax legislation without the threat of a filibuster by Senate Democrats.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the tax overhaul was “the single most important action we can take today to help our economy reach its full potential.”

Earlier Thursday, Trump addressed the vote with a sense of uncertainty, tweeting, “Republicans are going for the big Budget approval today, first step toward massive tax cuts. I think we have the votes, but who knows?”

As Republicans rushed through amendments to push their budget plan through to passage, a provision blocking the oil and gas drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve failed 52-48.