Four Democrats Defect, Vote Against Murray's Budget

Senate Democrats finally passed a budget in the wee hours this morning — but not without a few defectors.

The vote on Sen. Patty Murray’s (D-Wash.) budget plan was 50-49, with Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) not voting.

No Republicans voted for it. Voting against the budget were Democratic Sens. Max Baucus (Mont.), Mark Begich (Alaska), Mark Pryor (Ark.), and Kay Hagan (N.C.).

“While I am happy that Congress is finally talking seriously about our fiscal crisis, this budget didn’t go far enough,” said Begich. “Alaskans expect us  to finish the job and make this staggering deficit manageable. Passing this problem off to our children is not an option. We got ourselves into this mess and have a responsibility to get ourselves out.  We can either make the tough choices now or face an even tougher road ahead.”

“This budget fails to strike the right balance between cutting our spending and setting up a path for future job creation and economic growth,” Pryor said. “Instead of one-party solutions, we should work together to find a balanced approach that will benefit our economy, seniors, and middle class families.”

Maine Independent Angus King is proving himself to be a reliable vote for the Democrats, once against voting with the caucus.

Sen. Rand Paul’s (R-Ky.) budget failed 18-81 as an amendment, with support telling coming from Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), as well as Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Jerry Moran (R-Kansas), David Vitter (R-La.), Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), and Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.).

Cornyn’s amendment to withhold pay to Office of Management and Budget officials each day the president’s budget is late passed by unanimous consent.

“It’s hard to understand how—after 4 years of doing nothing—Senate Democrats are finally offering a budget and the president is still lagging behind them,” Cornyn said. “The president’s budget is now 46 days late, leaving the American people on a path of out of control spending.”