Senate Democrats Release $3.5 Trillion Budget Framework

Senate Democrats released a framework resolution for their $3.5 trillion federal budget plan on Monday, hoping to pass it by the end of the week after the Senate’s final vote on the bipartisan infrastructure bill. The framework would be built upon by Senate committees this fall and does not include a provision to raise the debt ceiling. Democrats’ plans for the final bill include large investments in paid leave, childcare, universal pre-K, tuition-free community college, expanding Medicare, renewable energy and more, as well as increased taxes on wealthy individuals and corporations. Once the bill is complete, Senate Democrats plan to use budget reconciliation to overcome a Republican filibuster and pass the bill with a simple majority of 51 votes. 

“Please remember that the resolution only includes ‘top-line’ reconciliation instructions to the committees, and that every Senator will have opportunities to shape and influence the final reconciliation bill after adoption of the Budget Resolution,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer wrote in a letter to his caucus on Monday. The same day, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell pledged that Republicans would not support the bill, saying, “If they don't want Republicans' input. They don’t need our help.”

Coverage was generally more positive in left-rated outlets and negative in right-rated outlets, with the former focusing on planned spending and the latter focusing more on tax increases. Coverage in several outlets framed the budget plan around a related issue, such as the plan’s lack of a debt ceiling increase. While some outlets across the spectrum featured this story prominently on homepages, others did not cover it at all.