Senate Votes to Cut Congress’ Budget

The Senate voted Friday to require Congress to tighten its belt with the rest of the federal government.

On an 85-8 vote, the Senate approved a bill appropriating $2.27 billion to run Congress and related agencies during the bookkeeping year that begins Oct. 1. That is $31 million, or 1.4%, less than its current budget.

The House version of the bill requires a similar reduction. Either version would abolish 248 congressional jobs and provide no money for an additional 2,318 permanent positions.