The political battle lines are drawn for a debate in Washington and beyond over a Republican budget plan that’s a cornerstone of President Donald Trump’s domestic agenda.
With the plan’s approval by the GOP-controlled Senate in a vote that ended early Saturday, Republicans hope to leverage their position of power in Washington to enact as much as $7 trillion in tax breaks, boost border security for mass deportations and cut government funding — and do so “without one single Democratic vote,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., the Senate Budget Committee chairman.
Democrats, as the minority party, were unable to halt the budget plan. But during the late-night session, they offered a preview of the political attacks likely coming not just during the lead-up to the final vote this summer, but through the 2026 campaign.
“We may not have the votes to stop them all by ourselves,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., told The Associated Press, “but we can use what the Republicans are trying to do with this tax bill to ignite a fire all across this country.”
Seizing on the moment, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York put forward an amendment to showcase that unease: He called for an end to those recently announced import taxes, which could result in higher prices for household goods, while keeping tariffs on China, Russia, Iran and other U.S. adversaries.
“President Trump’s tariff tax is one of the dumbest things he’s ever done as president, and that’s saying something,” Schumer said.