The Senate passed the record-breaking $26 billion budget without the support of many Democrats, who felt they had been “shut out” of the process when many of the amendments they offered were blocked on partisan votes.
Twenty-one senators voted aye on the budget, and fourteen voted nay.
Democratic amendments included funding for rural broadband, teen pregnancy prevention and rural economic redevelopment. Those priorities are sure to crop up again as the budget makes its way to the Democratic-controlled House. Both chambers have to sign off on the bill.
Senate Democrats’ frustrations made a splash on Twitter, as did the GOP’s rankled response:
A partisan divide emerging in Senate on #coleg budget w/ Dems condemning GOP blockade against amendments. #copolitics
— John Frank (@ByJohnFrank) April 2, 2015
Senate Dem Leader @MorganLCarroll voting no on next year’s budget, says party was shut out of process bc their amendments didn’t pass #coleg — Ivan Moreno (@IvanJourno) April 2, 2015
@CheriJahn on budget “For the first time in 13 years, I’m voting no and it wasn’t a decision I came to lightly.” #coleg #copolitics
— Bente Birkeland (@BenteBirkeland) April 2, 2015
Senate Ds, who had been in majority for 10 yrs, feeling left out of budget process. Rs made similar arguments when in the minority. #coleg — Ivan Moreno (@IvanJourno) April 2, 2015
“We are funding to current law based on policies you passed,” said Senate President Bill Cadman, pointing out that most of this year’s budget is paying for policies passed when Democrats were running the chamber.
“I thought being in the majority when the budget came would be fun,” said Cadman. “I was wrong.”
Butting heads via Wikicommons.
