WASHINGTON – The Senate narrowly advanced a request from the White House to claw back billions in funds for international aid and public broadcasting, as Congress faces a Friday deadline to act. Correspondent Bernie Bennett has this story. (POSSIBLE OUTCUE: The rescissions request would cut 8 billion dollars for USAID and 1 billion dollars for […]
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Senate Holds “Vote-a-rama” on Recissions Bill
WASHINGTON – The Senate narrowly advanced a request from the White House to claw back billions in funds for international aid and public broadcasting, as Congress faces a Friday deadline to act. Correspondent Bernie Bennett has this story.
(POSSIBLE OUTCUE: The rescissions request would cut 8 billion dollars for USAID and 1 billion dollars for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.)
VERBATIM: The request, known as a rescissions package, cleared its first procedural hurdles late Tuesday, with the help of Vice President JD Vance. The vice president cast two tie-breaking votes after three Republicans joined all Democrats in opposing it.
Earlier Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader John Thune appeared uncertain if he had the votes to advance it but moved ahead with a pair of procedural votes later in the day.
Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska voted against moving forward.
Bernie Bennett, Washington.