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Senate Republicans forced Democrats to take tough votes on issues ranging from critical race theory to abortion to fracking in a 2pm “vote-a-rama” Tuesday and then Wednesday that they were resisting the budget resolution that opens the door for Democrats to adopt a $ 3.5 trillion spending plan.
The vote-a-rama – in which senators can propose non-binding amendments to votes until they are fed up with doing so – is a necessary procedural step in budget reconciliation. Democrats use this process to bypass legislative obstruction in the Senate, allowing them to pass a wishlist of programs without input from Republicans.
But GOP senators pulled their pound of flesh out in the vote-a-rama, putting Democrats on the record on dozens of issues that could serve as message points during the 2022 midterm. They even forced Democrats to be divided on several questions, thus passing some of their amendments successfully.
One of those victories was an amendment by Sen. Tom Cotton R-Ark., Supporting the ban on federal funds supporting critical race theory in schools. Senator Joe Manchin, DW.Va., joined the 49 Republicans present to vote in favor of the amendment.
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“Today some want to replace our founding principles with a critical theory of race, want to teach our children that America is not a good nation but a racist nation,” Cotton told the Senate. “These teachings are wrong, and our taxes should not support them.”
Senator Patty Murray, D-Wash., Meanwhile said the amendment was “an attempt to force the federal government to interfere with the decisions of local school districts.” But the amendment was adopted with the support of Manchin.
Republicans forced Democrats to divide on several more votes. Eight Democrats have backed a proposal by Sen. Kevin Cramer, RN.D., that would prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from banning hydraulic fracturing. Four Democrats voted for an amendment from Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., Opposing any Agriculture Department policies that would cut federal funding for fossil fuel power plants.
“A ban on hydraulic fracturing would weaken national security, increase global emissions and take more money out of the pockets of hard-working Americans,” Cramer tweeted. “By passing one, the Democrats would be putting their reckless agenda ahead of the needs of their constituents. Glad my amendment passes.”
Four Democrats – the two Senators from Nevada and Senator Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., And Maggie Hassan, DN.H. – voted in favor of an amendment favorable to increasing the resources for the expulsion of illegal foreign criminals. Senator Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., Introduced this amendment.
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And all but nine Democrats voted in favor of an amendment from Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, that would support building renewable energy technology with parts made and bought in America rather than China.
All Democrats, meanwhile, voted against an amendment from Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, opposing the changes some Democrats are calling for to restore the National and Local Tax Deduction (SALT), which offers tax relief to the wealthy in Blue states. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Countered, introducing an amendment in favor of a progressive tax code in which the rich pay more than their proportional share. No Republican voted for it.
Almost all Democrats, meanwhile, opposed an amendment from Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., Supporting a ban on abortions for children with Down’s syndrome. Manchin joined Republicans in supporting the amendment while Senator Susan Collins, R-Maine, opposed it.
“Senate Democrats just voted to allow the deadliest kind of discrimination imaginable: being singled out and brutally killed because of a diagnosis of Down’s syndrome,” Senator Steve Daines, R-Mont tweeted. “Every life is precious, no matter its size, no matter how many chromosomes it may have.”
All Republicans backed an amendment by Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., To oppose federal funding for abortion. His amendment was adopted with the support of Manchin. And an amendment by Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., Supporting the 20-week abortion ban, failed despite Manchin’s backing – Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska and Collins opposed it.
Republicans will likely be happy to have scored many political points in the all-night a-rama vote. But at least one Democrat says he made a critical error.
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“I’m so excited. This may be the culmination of this long night of torture. It’s a gift,” Sen. Cory Booker, DN.J.
Booker was reacting to an amendment by Senator Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., Opposing police funding.
“If it wasn’t for a complete abdication of Senate procedures and esteem, I would go out there and kiss my colleague from Alabama,” Booker added exaggeratedly. “There are people who have said that there are members of this deliberative body who want to finance the police … This senator has given us the gift of finally once and for all we can put to bed the slanderous accusation. “
After the voting marathon, Democrats finally managed to pass the budget resolution, which will now go to the House for approval, officially triggering the budget reconciliation process.
But this is where the hard work begins for Democrats. They have yet to draft the massive bill and compete for the votes they need to pass it – that means the 50 Democratic Senators and nearly every House Democrat. It looks like an increasingly difficult task, with moderates in the House voicing concerns about the price of the reconciliation package and several moderate senators saying they do not support the effort in its current form.
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“Early this morning, I voted ‘YES’ in a procedural vote to move the budget reconciliation process forward because I think it is important to discuss the future of this country’s fiscal policy.” Manchin said on Wednesday. “However, I have serious concerns about the dire consequences facing West Virginia and every American family if Congress decides to spend an additional $ 3.5 trillion.”
Senator Kyrsten Sinema, D-Arizona, made a similar statement last month.
But Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, DN.Y., said Democrats’ spending plan was worth it
“What we’re doing here is not easy. Democrats have worked for months to get to this point, and there is a lot of work ahead,” he said. “But I can say with absolute certainty that it will be worth it. The Democratic budget will bring a generational transformation to how our economy works for average Americans.”
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