By Patricia Zengerle and Bo Erickson
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Senate will begin voting as soon as Tuesday on President Donald Trump’s request to slash $9.4 billion in spending on foreign aid and public broadcasting previously approved by Congress, the latest test of Trump’s control over his fellow Republicans.
Senator John Thune of South Dakota, the chamber’s Republican majority leader, said he hoped the first procedural votes would take place on Tuesday, but he did not know whether he had enough votes for the measure to pass without amendments.
“I don’t know the answer to that at this point. We got a lot of feedback. And I know there are folks who would like to see at least some modest changes to it,” Thune told reporters.
The Senate has until Friday to act on the rescissions package – a request to claw back $8.3 billion in foreign aid funding and $1.1 billion for public broadcasting – or the request will expire and the White House will be required to adhere to the spending plans passed by Congress.
The amounts at stake are small in the context of the sprawling federal budget, which totaled $6.8 trillion in the fiscal year ended September 30. Yet they have raised the hackles of Democrats and a handful of Republicans who see an attempt to erode Congress’s authority over spending.
Democrats say the programs in Trump’s crosshairs are foreign aid initiatives. These include support for women and children’s health and the fight against HIV/AIDS, programs that have long had strong bipartisan support. Democrats also oppose cutting funds supporting broadcasting they view as essential communications in rural areas.
“What is going on here? Does anyone stand up to these horrible, horrible cuts that hurt the American people?” Senator Charles Schumer of New York, the chamber’s Democratic leader, said in remarks opening the Senate on Monday.
Trump has threatened to withhold his endorsement from any member of Congress who does not vote for the measure without changes.
PAST RESCISSIONS PACKAGES FAILED
Standalone presidential rescissions packages have not passed in years, with lawmakers reluctant to cede their constitutionally mandated control of government spending. During Trump’s first term in 2018, Congress members rejected Trump’s request to revoke $15 billion in spending.
Trump’s Republicans hold narrow majorities in the Senate and House. So far, they have shown little appetite for opposing his policies.
On Monday, House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana said he hoped the Senate would grant Trump’s full request. “I think you’ve got to respect the White House’s request. That’s what we did, so I hope that’s what we get back.”
The rescissions legislation passed the House by 214-212 last month. Four Republicans joined 208 Democrats in voting against it.
Some Republican senators have expressed concern about some of Trump’s requests, including plans to slash programs to fight AIDS, support women and children’s health globally and fund radio stations that provide the only emergency notification services for residents of U.S. rural areas.
Senator Susan Collins of Maine, who chairs the Appropriations Committee, said she opposed Trump’s request for cuts to PEPFAR, a global program to fight AIDS. Trump wants to cut nearly $9 million from PEPFAR and $300 million overall from global programs to fight HIV/AIDS.
Democrats have warned that the foreign aid and broadcasting cuts, which overturn spending agreements between Republicans and Democrats, could make it more difficult to negotiate the package of spending bills that must pass by September 30 to fund the government next year and avoid a shutdown.
“How are we supposed to negotiate a bipartisan deal if Republicans will turn around and put it through the shredder in a partisan vote?” asked Senator Patty Murray from Washington, the top Democrat on the appropriations committee.
Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska has said she is concerned about public media cuts to rural parts of her state. “I don’t like the whole exercise of rescissions, particularly at a time when we are actually trying to advance appropriations,” she said last week.
Appropriations bills require 60 votes to move ahead in the Senate, but the rescissions package needs just 51, meaning Republicans can pass it without Democratic support.
(Reporting by Patricia Zengerle and Bo Erickson; additional reporting by David Morgan; Editing by Scott Malone and David Gregorio)
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