WASHINGTON, DC -- With Republicans looking to pass a party-line budget resolution package that would mean higher costs, less help for working families and seniors, and a $4.6 trillion tax windfall for the wealthy, the U.S. Senate is undertaking an all-night ‘vote-a-rama’ session to consider a range of Democratic amendments. 

U.S. Senator Jack Reed is leading consideration of a key amendment to protect Medicare and Medicaid.  Reed took to the floor this evening to offer an amendment that would simply prevent any cuts to Medicare and Medicaid -- something President Trump once promised. 

“Medicare serves 67 million seniors and people with disabilities and nearly 80 million Americans rely on Medicaid.  Cutting these vital health programs was never a budget solution on the campaign trail.  Putting them on the chopping block now is a betrayal that would shift higher costs to families, states, and health systems that can least afford it. I urge my Republican colleagues to keep their word and join Democrats in protecting Medicare and Medicaid for all Americans,” said Senator Reed.

Senate Republicans currently hold 53 seats and only require a simple majority to adopt their fiscal 2025 blueprint, which would trigger a process known as reconciliation, which cannot be filibustered under the Senate’s complicated budget rules.

Senate Republicans’ proposed budget reconciliation instructions -- the directives to the tax-writing and other committees that set up a special fast-track process for passing budget and tax legislation -- don’t spell out specific cuts, but still make it clear that Republicans want to irresponsibly slash funding for priorities that working Americans rely on and shift greater cost burdens on to families, states, and local communities in order to provide larger tax windfalls for the wealthy.

The vote-a-rama began this evening and is expected to go into Friday, with Democrats filing hundreds of amendments.

Senate Republican plans for the budget process were blown up when President Trump threw cold water on the Senate Republican strategy in favor of a House Republican plan for what Trump calls “one big beautiful bill” that would recklessly slash Medicaid and programs to fight hunger while also severely cutting parts of the budget that fund K-12 education; childcare; Pell Grants and student loans; medical research; transportation and air safety; clean air and water projects; and would potentially roll back customer service at the Social Security Administration.

The Budget Act limits Senate debate to 50 hours on a budget resolution, but over time the Senate has developed its amendment free-for-all custom, which allows for an accelerated voting procedure on amendments even after the 50 hours have expired.

Should Republicans successfully pass an identical budget resolution through both chambers, it would allow them to immediately begin writing a multi-trillion-dollar spending and tax “reconciliation” package, which can be passed under expedited procedures.

Both the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate would need to pass identical “reconciliation” legislation before it can be sent to the president’s desk to be signed into law.