The United States Senate passed a budget resolution Friday (February 5), which will serve as a crucial step in allowing the Democrats to pass President Joe Biden's COVID-19 relief package without the threat of a filibuster from Republican opposition.
The measure passed 51-50 on a party line vote, with Vice President Kamala Harris serving as the tie-breaking vote to approve the legislation, CNN reports.
The budget resolution's passage took place during hours of voting on amendments in what was referred to as "vote-a-rama," which allows senators to offer as many amendments to the budget solution as they wish to request. The amendments mostly stayed among party lines and served as an effort for each party to force the opposition on the record in relation to controversial issues, with most of the GOP amendments being defeated.
However, there were some highlights of bipartisan consensus, including an amendment led by Democratic Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine, which would prohibit "upper income taxpayers" from being eligible to receive the proposed $1,400 COVID relief stimulus checks.
The bipartisan amendment was adopted 99-1, but is not binding and will not change the eligibility requirements in the final COVID relief bill, however, does express broad consensus among the Senate for changes to be made.
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