The US Senate in Congress has narrowly passed a federal budget for 2018, the first step toward a controversial tax overhaul proposed by President Donald Trump that critics say benefits the wealthy.
The Republican measure, which passed along party lines on Thursday, is a largely symbolic gesture. However, the legislation includes special instructions that allows Trump’s party to pass tax reforms with a simple majority vote.
All Democrats and only Republican– Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky– voted against.
The US House of Representatives, which is the lower chamber in Congress, will hold a vote on the measure next week.
“With this budget, we’re on a path to delivering much needed relief to American individuals and families who have borne the burdens of an unfair tax code for entirely too long,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said immediately following the 51-49 vote.
Trump hailed the vote as “an important step in advancing the…