Cruz misses opening vote on budget

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) was the only 2016 Republican presidential hopeful in the Senate to miss a procedural vote Tuesday that opened up debate on a GOP budget agreement.

An aide said Cruz missed the procedural vote because he was traveling to Washington, and said the senator will be present for the final vote later in the day.

{mosads}The Texas senator has taken heat recently for skipping votes at the Capitol. He missed the vote to confirm Loretta Lynch as attorney general last month, later saying there was “no significance” to his absence and that it was the “equivalent of a ‘no’ vote.”

Sens. David Vitter (R-La.) and Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) both missed the procedural vote Tuesday as well.

Cruz voted against the Senate Republicans’ original budget blueprint in March and might defect again during the final vote Tuesday.

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), another presidential candidate, and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who is expected to launch a White House bid soon, both voted Tuesday to begin debate on the budget. In March, Rubio and Graham voted in favor of the original budget plan passed by the Senate.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who is also running for president, voted with most Democrats on Tuesday against proceeding to debate on the budget. Paul also opposed the original budget in March.

GOP aides on Monday predicted the final vote on the budget deal will resemble the 52-46 tally in March.

Sen. Tim Kaine (Va.) was the lone Democrat to vote with Republicans to open debate on the budget Tuesday. A spokeswoman said Kaine voted to move forward so as not to be obstructionist, but said he does not support the substance of the GOP budget.

— This story was updated on May 6 at 10:20 a.m.