WASHINGTON — Democratic presidential candidates Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) missed the Senate vote on the two-year budget agreement that lifts the debt ceiling and increases federal spending by about $320 billion.
Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), who has been facing health issues, also missed the vote on the $2.7 trillion spending bill formally titled the “Bipartisan Budget Act of 2019.”
Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), who participated in the CNN Democratic debate last night along with Harris and Booker, voted in favor the bill on Thursday. Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), who also participated in last night’s debate, voted against the bill along with Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), who participated in the CNN Democratic debate on Tuesday evening.
The House passed the bill before lawmakers left for August recess. They return in early September. The Senate passed the bill on Thursday in a 67-28 vote. In addition to raising federal spending above current levels, the legislation also lifts the debt ceiling through July 2021.
Booker and Harris also missed a Senate Judiciary Committee markup on Thursday for the “Secure and Protect Act of 2019” and W. Stephen Muldrow’s nomination for U.S. attorney of the District of Puerto Rico.
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