The next step in the budget process begins unfolding this afternoon and over the next 48 hours. (Getty Images)
If the Senate fails to proceed, Republicans have major problems. But if the Senate can forge ahead, then it can actually launch up to 50 hours of debate on the updated budget package and go to what’s called a "vote-a-rama" Friday evening. The Senate would presumably finish this step in the process and adopt the new framework in the wee hours of Saturday morning or perhaps during the day on Saturday.
A "vote-a-rama" is really just a very Senate way of saying "long vote series which probably runs all night." The Senate rifles through roll call vote after roll call vote for hours on end. Most vote-a-ramas run 10-15 hours. They are always related to the budget process. And, because of special budget rules, senators can offer an unlimited number of amendments – and that’s why there are so many votes.
Republicans will try to get through this process as quickly as possible – although some conservatives may offer amendments for additional debt reduction or something related to the debt ceiling.
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Sen. Cory Booker sits on-camera in the video's intro. (Senate Democrats YouTube channel)
First, the Senate needs to get through this step. Time is of the essence. But secondly, Fox is told that holding off until later in the week could limit the length of the vote-a-rama if the Senate doesn’t start until Friday night. That isn’t to say the vote-a-rama won’t be long and tiring. But it could abbreviate the process.
Let’s take a step backward so we can look forward on what the House and Senate must still do to pass the tax cut and spending cut plan. There are potentially eight steps here. The Senate motion over the next few days is step three.
In February, the Senate adopted an initial budget outline so it could use the special "budget reconciliation process" and avoid a filibuster.
The House approved its own version of a budget outline in late February – even though the consequences of the filibuster mean nothing to the House. But the issue was that the House and Senate approved different budget frameworks. They still need to sync up.
So those were steps one and two of this protracted process.
The Senate’s vote-a-rama – culminating with the adoption of a new, updated budget blueprint – is step three.
Speaker Mike Johnson speaks during a news conference at the Republican National Committee headquarters in Washington, Jan. 22, 2025. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)
It’s possible the speaker was glad to have some backup after one of the worst weeks of his tenure. Johnson lost an internecine fight over proxy voting for members who are pregnant or new moms. That blocked the House from considering other major bills and forced him to shut the House down for the rest of the week on Tuesday.
Regardless, if the House adopts the plan now before the Senate, they go to steps five and six. That’s where the House and Senate actually assemble, debate and presumably pass the bill itself. Those steps will be the most challenging set yet. And it likely involves yet another vote-a-rama in the Senate.
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Then, we may have steps seven and eight. That’s where the House and Senate may need to take yet another set of votes to align again – if both bodies have approved different bills.
That’s why passing the "big, beautiful bill" may take until summer. And there will undoubtedly be additional hiccups along the way.
Chad Pergram currently serves as a senior congressional correspondent for FOX News Channel (FNC). He joined the network in September 2007 and is based out of Washington, D.C.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/senates-next-moves-pass-trumps-big-beautiful-bill