Senate Ruling on One Big, Beautiful Bill Act
- Senate Budget Committee Chair Lindsey Graham has sole authority to determine if the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act violates budget laws.
- Democrats attempted to overturn a ruling but were unsuccessful.
Details of the Ruling
- Senator Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn. ) announced that no budget points of order will be sustained unless Graham validates them.
- This ruling limits Democrats' power as the minority party.
- Hagerty stated that the presiding chair relies on the Budget Committee's assessments of the 940-page bill's budgetary effects.
- Graham determined the bill will not increase future deficits according to the current policy baseline.
Democratic Response
- Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore. ) appealed the ruling, citing a letter from the Congressional Budget Office.
- The letter indicates the bill's Finance Committee portion could increase federal deficits by $3. 5 trillion from 2025-2034.
- Merkley argued the chair's power to create a "phony baseline" breaks Senate tradition.
Outcome of the Appeal
- Merkley's appeal failed with a party-line vote of 53-47.
- The Senate is currently conducting votes on amendments and final passage of the GOP tax and spending bill.
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5376946-graham-gop-megabill-budget-laws/
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