The House-passed budget deal is expected to advance in the Senate, although it may be a close vote due to significant Republican opposition.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has set up a procedural vote on the bill, requiring 60 votes, for Tuesday. Democratic leaders say the bill will clear the threshold.
“I think it’s a pretty safe bet it’s going to pass,” Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said Monday on MSNBC, citing the broad, bipartisan vote in the House and predicting that Senate GOP leaders don’t want it to fail.
Reid and Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) believe all Democrats will vote for “cloture” on the legislation.
Five Republicans have publicly come out for the bill: Sens. Susan Collins (ME), Richard Burr (NC), Jeff Flake (AZ), John McCain (AZ) and Ron Johnson (WI).
The two-year budget deal, struck last week by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), raises spending modestly above current levels and mitigates across-the-board sequester cuts. Influential conservative groups oppose the bill because they want to maintain the low spending levels.