Washington (United States), April 5 (LaPresse) – Republican senators in the U.S. worked through the night and into the early morning today to approve their framework of tax breaks and spending cuts worth billions of dollars. The vote, 51-48, was largely along party lines but saw strong opposition from two key GOP senators. The Republicans overcame fierce Democratic opposition in a crucial step that is central to President Donald Trump's agenda. The approval of the plan clears the way for Republicans in the coming months to pass a tax cut law in both chambers of Congress. The Republicans framed their work as preventing a tax increase for most American families, arguing that unless Congress acts, the individual and estate tax cuts approved by Republicans in 2017 will expire at the end of this year. The Senate package also includes other GOP priorities, including $175 billion to support Trump's mass deportation effort, which is running out of funds, and another $175 billion for the Pentagon to strengthen the military from a previous budget effort. Democrats accused Republicans of laying the groundwork for a deficit increase and cuts to essential security programs. Senators spent hours reviewing amendments before the final vote, sending the package to the House for the next steps.
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