The US Senate voted on Thursday to approve a budget blueprint for the 2018 fiscal year that will pave the way for Republicans to pursue a tax-cut package without Democratic support.
By a 51-to-49 vote, the Republican-controlled Senate approved the budget measure, which would add up to $1.5 trillion to the federal deficit over the next decade in order to pay for proposed tax cuts.
The Senate bill has to be reconciled with a markedly different version passed by the House of Representatives, also led by Republicans, before it can be sent to President Donald Trump for his signature.
