Senate Republicans to Vote on Fiscal Year 2018 Budget
Senate Republicans anticipate voting on the fiscal year 2018 budget this week, allowing their tax plan to add up to $1.5 trillion to the deficit over the next ten years. The resolution will also contain provisions allowing the GOP to pass the tax reform bill, promised to be brought to the floor by year’s end, by a simple majority and avoid a Democratic filibuster in the Senate. While it is expected that Senate Republicans will be able to pass the budget based on their slim majority, there is little room for party defections, particularly as Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) is likely to oppose the resolution. Sen. Lindsey Graham grimly predicted that if the party is unable to pass tax reform in 2018, the GOP will lose its Senate majority in the 2018 midterm elections and President Trump’s re-election bid would be jeopardized.
Senate aims to kick off tax reform