The title: A Long Night in the Senate: Democrats Vent Frustration over DOGE, Ukraine, and More
News Body:
In a marathon Senate session, the Democrats used the platform to express their dissatisfaction with President Donald Trump's actions since he took office. The discussion, which lasted into the early hours of Friday, extended beyond the Republican's budget resolution that was on the agenda.
The Democrats voiced their concerns over several matters, including the Department of Government Efficiency, led by billionaire Elon Musk, slashing the federal workforce, Trump's criticisms of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and the Republican’s plan to extend tax breaks, particularly for the wealthy, and cut social safety programs. All these issues surpassed the initial focus of the $340 billion budget blueprint for border security and deportations.
Despite being out of power in Washington D.C., the Democrats tabled numerous amendments during the late-night session, effectively extending the Senate meeting into Friday morning. Senator Patty Murray of Washington warned that the actions of Trump and Musk made the lives of the American people worse and that the proposed budget would only exacerbate the situation.
The Democrats proposed amendments, as the session continued into the early hours, aimed at reversing tax breaks for the wealthy, reinstating fired public workers, preserving Medicaid, assisting Ukraine, and preventing cuts to government services. However, none of these were approved.
The Democrats avoided discussing Trump's plans to increase border security and deport immigrants, which lie at the heart of the $340 billion budget. The Democrats have yet to form a solid response to these plans, which have proved divisive within their party.
The Republicans highlighted this disconnect as they approved the budget framework by a 52-48 vote, largely along party lines. The budget will now have to be reconciled with a version from the House, which includes up to $2 trillion in spending cuts and $4.5 trillion in tax breaks.
As the session approached dawn, the Republicans struck down an amendment proposed by Senator Chris Coons of Delaware, which would have prevented "unvetted and unaccountable" DOGE workers from accessing Americans' personal information in government databases.
After proposals to prohibit tax breaks for billionaires were rejected, several senators proposed different caps on who could receive tax breaks. However, all these suggestions failed to pass.
Republican Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana likened the evening to "professional wrestling" and criticized the Democrats for straying from the main topic of border security.
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, a previous Budget committee chairman, took time to present his own ideas, such as expanding Social Security benefits and extending Medicare health care coverage. Sanders also critiqued Trump's assertion that Ukraine was responsible for starting the war, instead of Russia’s invasion in 2022, calling it an "absolute lie."