Charleston Reporter

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, who serves as the Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, expressed his support for the Senate's amendment to the House Budget Resolution. Senator Graham emphasized the significance of the resolution, stating, "Today is one of the most important steps toward ensuring the Republican majority fulfills its promise to the American people that we will secure our border, strengthen our national security, make President Trump’s tax cuts permanent, and reduce spending."

The passage of this budget resolution is seen as a key step that "unlocks the ability for the appropriate Senate committees to fully fund our border needs for four years, provide much-needed financial relief to our military at a time of great danger, make the 2017 tax cuts permanent to energize the economy, and do what has been promised for decades: go through every line item of the budget to cut wasteful and unnecessary spending – hopefully by the trillions."

Graham further highlighted the partisan nature of the process, stating, "We cannot expect any Democrat to help us seriously reduce spending or make the Trump tax cuts permanent. This responsibility falls upon the Republican majority and I am confident we will rise to the occasion."

He noted that Senate Budget Committee Republicans have conferred with President Trump, mentioning, "He is fully on board with the Senate’s proposal and process to cut spending."

As Budget Chairman, Graham referenced his authority under section 312 of the Congressional Budget Act to establish baseline numbers for spending and revenue. He indicated this authority would be used to maintain the current policy as the baseline concerning taxation to make the tax cuts permanent. "Budget Committee Chairmen before me have utilized section 312 to determine spending and revenue levels, and have also instructed the Congressional Budget Office and Joint Committee on Taxation to adjust scoring," he stated.

Senator Graham reiterated his confidence in the Republican majority's ability to execute these plans.