Senate braces for high-stakes vote on President Trump’s budget bill

The future of President Donald Trump’s sweeping budget bill remains uncertain as the Senate heads into a critical vote-a-rama today.

(CNN)- The future of President Donald Trump’s sweeping budget bill remains uncertain as the Senate heads into a critical vote-a-rama today. Democrats are united in opposition. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized the bill sharply, saying, “A handful of billionaires get a big break while working people lose their Medicaid, while hungry kids lose access to food funding.”

Meanwhile, most Republicans back the bill. Senate Majority Leader John Thune called it “a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver legislation to create a safer, stronger, and more prosperous America.” Still, the bill’s passage is far from guaranteed. With a slim majority, Republicans can only afford to lose three votes — and several senators are expressing concerns.

Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina has already said he’ll vote no and will retire at the end of his term. “What do I tell 663,000 people in two years, three years, when President Trump breaks his promise by pushing them off of Medicaid because the funding’s not there?” he asked. Senator Rand Paul also opposes the bill, criticizing its potential impact on the national deficit. “That doesn’t sound at all conservative to me,” Paul said.

Others, like Alaska’s Lisa Murkowski, are seeking state-specific carve-outs. Senator Susan Collins of Maine is signaling plans to introduce an amendment, and Missouri’s Josh Hawley says he’ll support the bill—but with reservations.

“We can’t be cutting healthcare for working people and for poor people in order to constantly give special tax treatment to corporations,” Hawley said.