Feb 21, 2025
Budget resolution advances as Senate rejects Dems' energy amendments
Feb 21, 2025
Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios
The Senate early Friday passed a Republican budget resolution after a marathon vote-a-rama amendment session.
Why it matters: It moves the Senate towards a reconciliation bill that includes oil and gas leasing provisions and a repeal of the IRA's methane fee, the first part of the Senate GOP's two-step plan to enact the Trump agenda.
Driving the news: Senators advanced the resolution in a 52-48 partisan vote.
- Republicans rebuffed more than two dozen Democratic amendments during the all-night vote-a-rama, a lengthy amendment process that's part of Senate procedure for reconciliation.
- That included establishing a deficit-neutral reserve fund to pay for reinstating fired employees at several Interior Department agencies; creating a point of order against legislation that would raise Americans' energy costs; and ensuring fair wages for federal wildland firefighters.
- Sen. Mike Lee proposed an amendment — which passed 53-47 — that could lead to the inclusion of the controversial REINS Act, which would require congressional approval of major rules.
The big picture: For now, this is seen as a backup plan with President Trump pushing lawmakers to pursue the House's one-bill strategy.
- The House could move its own budget resolution to kickstart that process as soon as next week.
