Republican Sens. Mike Lee (UT), Ted Cruz (TX), Dean Heller (NV), Susan Collins (ME) and Rand Paul (KY) joined a unified Democratic caucus in voting against it. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) missed the vote.
Republicans did not offer the Ryan budget; Senate Budget Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) forced the vote by bringing up the plan as a substitute to her own Democratic budget.
“There seemed to be some resistance among my Republican colleagues in bringing up the House Republican budget for a vote. And it’s pretty easy to see why that is,” she said in a floor speech before the vote. “The House Republican approach has been thoroughly reviewed and just as thoroughly rejected by the American people.”
Sen. John Thune (R-SD) urged passage of the Ryan plan prior to the vote, calling it a responsible solution and arguing that it balances federal spending and revenue in 10 years.
The Ryan blueprint passed the House Thursday morning.
