Senate Moves to Waive Budget Control Act Provisions

In debating S. 1813, the Federal Transportation funding bill, known as Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act, a motion was passed by a vote of 66-31 to waive the budgetary restrictions of the Budget Control Act, capping discretionary spending. In effect, the motion renders the Budget Control Act meaningless in controlling the growth of Federal spending.

Republican Senators Alexander (R-TN), Blunt (R-MO), Boozman (R-AR), Brown (R-MA), Cochran (R-MS), Collins (R-ME), Heller (R-NV), Hoeven (R-ND), Hutchison (R-TX), Inhofe (R-OK), Shelby (R-AL), Snowe (R-ME), Vitter (R-LA), and Wicker (R-MS) voted to waive budgetary restrictions, while all Democrats voted for the motion except Warner of Virginia.

Tags: continuing appropriations, federal debt, spending increase, tax increase