Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Senate Passes GOP Budget, Paves Way For Trump Tax Reform Plan

Donald Trump
/Youtube

Budget also opens the Arctic to oil exploration.

Late Thursday, Senate Republicans took the first step toward passing tax reform and fulfilling a longstanding campaign promise.

After an hours-long debate on the Senate floor, they voted 51-49 to pass the Senate version of the fiscal 2018 budget. Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky joined every Democrat and independent voting against the bill.


Passage was key to Republicans' efforts on tax reform because it includes instructions that will allow the plan to avoid a Democratic filibuster. The budget still requires final approval by the House of Representatives.

However a last-minute amendment from Senate Budget Committee Chairman Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) adopted technical and procedural language from the House budget. This move should expedite the budget’s final passage.

“Passing this budget is critical to getting tax reform done, so we can strengthen our economy after years of stagnation under the previous administration,” said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.)

Meant to outline spending for the fiscal year, this budget provides only a method for passing tax reform according to many prominent Republicans.

This is the biggest hoax cast upon the American people ever that this budget process even exists."

"The only thing about this that matters is in preparation for tax reform," said Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), who voted for the budget.

Senator John McCain, explaining why he supported the budget, added: “At the end of the day, we all know that the Senate budget resolution will not impact final appropriations.”

“Passing this budget is not a requirement for passing tax reform,” countered Senator Gary Peters (D-Mich.). “Passing this budget is only a requirement to pass a tax bill with as few votes as possible, without input or buy-in from members of the minority.”

The budget would allow the Senate GOP's tax plan to add up to $1.5 trillion to the deficit over a decade. Senators narrowly rejected a push by Democrats, led by Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), to block using the budget to open up oil and gas drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

While not specifically mentioning the wildlife refuge, it tasks the Energy and Natural Resources Committee to pass legislation to raise $1 billion over the next 10 years. Drilling in the Arctic refuge is the most likely way to get to the total.

President Trump reacted to the news via Twitter at 3:11am.

More from News/political-news

Screenshot of Michael Waltz
Fox News

Trump Official Dragged After Suggesting 'Atlantic' Editor 'Hacked' Into Signal Group Chat

Speaking to Fox News personality Laura Ingraham, national security adviser Michael Waltz suggested that Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg hacked his phone to gain access to a Signal chat with high-level Trump administration officials, particularly Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, discussing military strategy surrounding war strikes in Yemen.

Waltz made this claim even though he had previously acknowledged setting up the Signal group in question, while President Donald Trump suggested that it was one of Waltz’s associates who added Goldberg.

Keep ReadingShow less
Denzel Washington
Ivan Romano/Getty Images

Denzel Washington Sparks Debate After Pushing Back On Being Called A 'Hollywood Actor'

If you ever get a chance to talk to Denzel Washington about his acting craft, be careful how you address him.

Big-time actors Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal are currently starring in a Broadway rendition of Othello, which is the first Shakespeare play to be produced on Broadway in more than 40 years, alongside other big actors and producers traditionally found in Hollywood-based productions.

Keep ReadingShow less
Pedro Pascal
Jimmy Kimmel Live/YouTube

Pedro Pascal Left Red-Faced After Photo Reveals His Bonkers Morning Coffee Order

There are some things that should be between you and the person you worked with to get it: your medical prescriptions, the number of packages you receive from online shopping, and your coffee order.

Actor Pedro Pascal was recently being interviewed on Jimmy Kimmel Live when the host brought up how a paparazzi had accidentally revealed Pascal's coffee order in an image from last year.

Keep ReadingShow less
Gwyneth Paltrow; Meghan Markle
Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images; Samir Hussein/WireImage

Gwyneth Paltrow And Meghan Markle Epically Shut Down Rumors That They're Feuding

The newest Hollywood feud is the one in which actor Gwyneth Paltrow and Meghan Markle are at each other's throats after Paltrow mocked Markle's new Netflix show.

The only problem—it apparently never happened.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Donald Trump
Newsmax

Trump Slammed After Touting Plan To Financially Compensate Pardoned Jan. 6 Rioters

President Donald Trump is facing criticism after suggesting the creation of a "compensation fund" for individuals who were pardoned after participating in the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.

In one of his first official actions upon returning to office, Trump granted sweeping clemency to nearly 1,600 people charged in connection with the riot. He issued pardons to most defendants and commuted the sentences of 14 members of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers militia, many of whom had been convicted of seditious conspiracy.

Keep ReadingShow less