How MA Senators Voted On $9B Bill Cutting Public Broadcasting, Foreign Aid

MASSACHUSETTS — Massachusetts senators voted against $9 billion in federal spending cuts, including deep reductions in public broadcasting and foreign aid, passed early Thursday by the Senate.

Democratic Sens. Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts both voted against the bill.

The legislation, one of President Donald Trump’s key priorities, would have a tiny impact on the nation’s rising debt but could have major ramifications for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and U.S. food aid internationally.

It also could complicate efforts to pass additional spending bills this year, as Democrats and even some Republicans voice objections to broadly ceding congressional spending power with little idea of how the White House Office of Management and Budget would apply the cuts.

Democrats sought to remove many of the proposed rescissions during the 12 hours of amendment votes. The measure passed on a vote of 51-48 just after 2 a.m. ET. None of the Democratic amendments were adopted.

Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska voted against the legislation.

Sen. Markey spoke on the Senate floor in support of an amendment that might have protected children’s education programming from the cuts.

“In the middle of the night, Republicans once again bent the knee to their wannabe King Donald, rubberstamping his cruel and callous cuts while robbing kids and communities of free, high-quality public programming,” said Sen. Markey in a news release.

If the House passes the bill, it would go to Trump’s desk for his signature.

The Associated Press contributed reporting