By Mario Trujillo
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) announced that his chamber will vote on both the Democrat and Republican budget plans on Tuesday. However, Reid admitted that neither measure is likely to pass.
Reid said that while the outcomes of the votes are already known, it is important to show the public which side of the table Senators are on.
“They will show us which Senators are serious about fortifying our long-term future, and which are more concerned with scoring short-term political points,” Reid said during floor remarks on Monday.
The Democrats’ proposal would shave $6.5 billion from current spending levels, while the Republican budget, passed by the House last month, cuts $61 billion. Congress already agreed to a short-term funding package that gives lawmakers until March 18 to work on a long-term plan. The temporary measure included roughly $4 billion in spending reductions.