Senate GOP expecting budget vote this week despite senator’s absence

Senate Republicans expect to push ahead with the fiscal year 2018 budget that’s key to tax reform this week despite GOP Sen. Thad Cochran’s absence.

Cochran’s office announced the senator won’t return this week, as was previously expected, due to health concerns. The statement didn’t specify when the Mississippi senator would be back, throwing into question leadership’s plan to move forward with the budget this week.

But a budget committee aide indicated on Monday that floor action on the fiscal year 2018 budget, which is being used to pave the way for tax reform, would move forward as expected.

“Full speed ahead!” the GOP staffer said, when asked if the budget would still be brought up with Cochran’s absence.

Neither Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) nor President Trump directly addressed Cochran’s health during a joint press conference, but they signaled the vote was on track. 

“We think we’re in good shape for the budget,” Trump said.

McConnell added that the budget is “next” on the Senate’s schedule.

Passing the budget is a crucial step toward the Republicans’ goal to pass tax reform. The fiscal document includes instructions that will allow them to bypass a Democratic filibuster and ultimately pass tax reform with a simple majority.

With Cochran absent, Republicans have a slim path to getting the budget through the upper chamber this week. They have 52 GOP senators and, if every Democrat votes against the measure, could only afford to lose one other GOP senator. That would set up the budget to pass by a razor-thin 50-49 margin.

Republicans are expected to have the votes need to pass the budget.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) hasn’t formally indicated how he will vote but is widely viewed as a likely “no” vote.

GOP Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), meanwhile, indicated over the weekend that she is likely to support the budget resolution. And Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), who has been a vocal skeptic of the GOP tax plan, signaled earlier this month that he would vote for the budget resolution.

Republicans could have more breathing room if Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) remains in New Jersey for his bribery and corruption trial. That would allow Republicans to lose two GOP senators, in addition to Cochran’s absence, setting up a 49-49 tie that Vice President Mike Pence would break.

Menendez’s spokeswoman said aides didn’t know if the New Jersey Democrat would return for the budget vote.

A spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) indicated there was not a scheduling change to announce, adding: “If we make any new announcements, we’ll be sure to get them your way.”

McConnell is having lunch with President Trump on Monday to discuss the fall agenda.

A spokeswoman for Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), who is charge of counting votes for Senate Republicans, offered a similar comment.

– This story was updated at 3:12 p.m.