The Senate Is About To Take A Huge Vote On The Budget - And, Bizarrely, It's Going To Be Close

Shortly after convening Tuesday morning, the Senate is expected to take a crucial vote on the budget bill that is the result of a deal brokered by Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), the lead negotiators of their parties.

The House of Representatives passed the legislation last week in blowout bipartisan fashion. But in the Senate, the vote is expected to be much closer, amid steady opposition from Republicans.

Sixty votes are needed to break a filibuster and move the bill to an up-or-down vote, and Democrats are expected to have the votes.

In the past few days, eight Republican senators - Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.), Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) and Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) - have suggested that they will at least vote to advance the measure. A Senate GOP aide told Business Insider that the conservative Johnson coming out in support of the deal Sunday night was "significant."

With 55 senators caucusing with Democrats, that's more than enough votes to bring the legislation to an up-or-down vote.

The budget deal has been a source of deep division within the Republican Party. Outside conservative groups have come out strongly against the deal, and House Speaker John Boehner has denounced those groups as having lost "all credibility."

Despite the support from House GOP leaders like Boehner and Ryan, Senate Republican leaders, including Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, are widely expected to oppose the deal.

We'll update this post with the results of the vote.