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Sen. Chuck Schumer.
- The Senate passed a budget with all Republican votes.
- The budget would help pave the way for the GOP and Trump's tax plan.
- Democrats blasted the budget. Chuck Schumer called it "one of the worst budgets Congress has ever passed."
Moments after the Senate passed a massive fiscal year 2018 budget with only Republican votes, Democrats slammed the resolution and it's pathway towards passing a GOP tax reform plan.
"This nasty and backwards budget green lights cuts to Medicare and Medicaid in order to give a tax break to big corporations and the wealthiest Americans. It shifts the burden from the wealthy and puts it squarely on the back of the middle class, and blows a hole in the deficit to boot," said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
"I think it will go down in history as one of the worst budgets Congress has ever passed."
The budget would include cuts to various healthcare and social assistance programs while increasing defense spending. It also opens up a window for tax cuts that add $1.5 trillion to the federal budget.
" I strongly oppose this push to jam through tax breaks for the wealthy while also making massive cuts to Medicare and Medicaid," Sen. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan wrote in a statement. "We need a budget that reflects Michigan's priorities and this budget falls short."
Here's how other Senate Democrats are reacting:
- Tim Kaine (VA): "Senate Republicans held this vote on a sham budget to pave the way for their partisan tax plan. Based on what little we know about it, their tax plan could increase taxes on many hardworking Virginia families, put Medicare and Medicaid at risk, and increase the debt by $1.5 trillion. And I'm not okay with that."
- Chris Murphy (CT): "People in Connecticut should be worried. This Republican budget cuts Medicare to funnel billions of dollars of tax cuts to people who are already rich. It's cruel, and it will hurt a lot of people in Connecticut. Opposing this was one of the easiest decisions I've ever made. I beg my Republican colleagues to ditch this skewed tax giveaway and work on a bipartisan plan that focuses tax cuts on the people and small businesses that need them most."
- Martin Heinrich (NM): "I am deeply disappointed that Republicans voted for a budget that slashes Medicaid and Medicare, and cuts critical services that invest directly in our communities. This budget ignores our current reality and makes it tougher for American families to afford a college education or access quality health care coverage. Republicans have now taken the first step toward issuing massive tax breaks to special interests and wealthy individuals, while leaving working families, rural communities, and others to suffer."