Kim, Booker Blast Republican-Led Budget ‘Vote-A-Rama’ In Senate

NEW JERSEY — When U.S. Sen. Andy Kim emerged from the marathon budget “vote-a-rama” that took place in Congress last week, the Democratic lawmaker from New Jersey was left with a bad taste in his mouth.

“While Americans face rising costs and worry about sending their kids to school hungry, Senate Republicans have pushed forward a budget plan that leaves them behind,” he insisted.

On Friday, Kim was among the legislators who voted against a budget resolution that passed 52-48 in the Republican-controlled Senate.

New Jersey’s other U.S. senator, Cory Booker, also blasted the budget bill, accusing his GOP counterparts of “working to give handouts to their billionaire donors.”

The all-night session included votes on more than two dozen amendments, some of which were proposed by Kim and Booker – and later rejected.

The $340 billion blueprint would boost funding for President Donald Trump’s domestic agenda, including immigration enforcement, energy production and military spending. It would greenlight $175 billion for border security and $150 billion for the Pentagon – while also serving as a blueprint for “massive cuts” to Medicare, Medicaid, SNAP benefits and other social service programs, Kim argued.

“Through this entire ‘vote-a-rama,’ Senate Republicans showed they are in lockstep with the Trump administration’s plan to pad the pockets of the ultra-wealthy with dollars that belong to working families,” Kim said, elaborating on his position in a video message.

The U.S. House of Representatives has proposed its own version of the budget, with a vote expected this week. The two chambers will hammer out a final version through a process known as reconciliation.

• See Related: Medicaid Cuts, Billionaire Tax Breaks: NJ Reaction To House Budget

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