Rushing through debates on proposed amendments, the Senate passed a Republican budget plan at 3:30 a.m. today. The budget slashes funds for education and health care and purports to cut spending by $5.5 trillion over 10 years without raising taxes. The plan also calls for full repeal of President Obama's health care law and increased Medicare savings.
Early reports on the budget’s passage are short on details, but as of 4:30 a.m., the new spending plan—
• Adds $38 billion to $58 billion already allotted for defense, bringing the Pentagon’s 2016 budget to $612 billion.
• Expands access to paid sick leave, requiring employers with at least 15 employees to allow their workers to earn up to seven days of annual, job-protected paid sick leave.
• Expands workplace rights for pregnant women.
• Allows benefits for same-sex couples in states without gay marriage.
It's worth noting that the budget is not law, but rather a blueprint for appropriations committees to follow when constructing their bill proposals.