- The Senate on Friday approved a budget measure that paves the way for President Biden’s stimulus bill.
- The vote was divided according to party lines, with Vice President Kamala Harris delivering the final decision.
- The resolution means that Biden can accept the stimulus bill without GOP support.
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The U.S. Senate passed a budget resolution early Friday morning paving the way for Congress to stimulate President Joe Biden’s $ 1.9 trillion bill.
The vote was split along party lines, with Vice President Kamala Harris casting the deciding vote in favor of approving the resolution, voting 51:35 at around 05:35.
It was Harris’ first decisive vote in the Senate since her election as vice president, with the Senate divided equally between Democratic and Republican senators.
The resolution enables Democrats to pass Biden’s stimulus bill without GOP support.
With the instrument, Democrats can pass the stimulus bill with a simple majority vote, to evade potential GOP blocking tactics that would otherwise require a two-thirds majority vote of the Senate to replace.
The resolution was adopted as part of an all-night marathon of amendment votes, known as ‘voice-a-rama’.
It will now be sent to the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives for ratification.
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The process by legislators and government officials to draft Biden’s emergency relief bill could now begin in earnest. Biden is still seeking dual support for a stimulus bill.
Any measures and compromises agreed with the IDP senators as part of the negotiations can still be incorporated into the stimulus bill, which can then be passed with Republican support, meaning Democrats do not need the resolution tool Friday has not been approved.
The size of direct payment checks is among the issues that divide Republicans and Democrats, with Biden seeking $ 1,400 checks and Republicans wanting $ 1,000 checks.
Democrats intend to push through the stimulus bill on March 14, when special unemployment benefits expire, unless Congress acts to renew it.