#Trump, GOP slam Dems’ $3.5T budget as ‘Communist plan to destroy’ US

Former President Donald Trump is blasting Senate Democrats for executing a “communist plan to destroy America,” after pushing ahead with their $3.5 trillion budget spending plan.

Trump led the Republican criticism after a 15-hour “vote-a-rama” overnight that eventually saw senators pass the $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation package 50-49 in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

In a statement via his Save America PAC, Trump urged Americans to “wake up”.

“Good morning, America! While you were all sleeping, the Radical Democrats advanced a plan that will be known as the $3.5 trillion Communist Plan to Destroy America,” Trump said.

“This legislation is an assault on our nation, on our communities, and on the American Dream. It destroys our borders and the rule of law by granting dangerous amnesty that will flood America’s beautiful cities.

“It will overwhelm our schools, and make our nation less safe. It raises taxes like we have never seen, while also making many things you buy everyday more expensive (gas, groceries, and much more). And don’t forget the crazy Green New Deal.

“America, you are being robbed in the dark of night. It’s time to wake up!”

His comments were echoed by fellow Republicans, including House Republican Whip Steve Scalise, who declared Democrats are trying to “transform America to fit their radical agenda.”

“Let’s be clear about the Dems’ $3.5 TRILLION spending bill: $100B for mass amnesty, full of insane leftist policies and slush funds, tax hikes, fuels inflation. This isn’t a serious attempt at governing,” he tweeted.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy argued: “Democrats are determined to make life worse by passing a $3.5 trillion socialist spending binge that will crush families, dismantle our economy and reshape our country in the worst possible way.”

Senator Lindsey Graham said the Dems’ plan would “set in motion a blueprint that will incentivize further illegal immigration, increase rampant inflation, and dramatically grow the size of government.”

But Republicans weren’t the only ones who flagged concerns about the spending plan.

Democratic Senator Joe Manchin said on Wednesday he had “serious concerns” — signaling he may plan to thwart his party’s future efforts.

“Early this morning, I voted ‘YES’ on a procedural vote to move forward on the budget reconciliation process because I believe it is important to discuss the fiscal policy future of this country,” Manchin, a moderate Democrat, said.

“However, I have serious concerns about the grave consequences facing West Virginians and every American family if Congress decides to spend another $3.5 trillion.”

In the 15-hour “vote-a-rama,” GOP senators ensured Democrats voted on a range of issues as they sought amendments — some of which were successful — to various parts of the spending plan.

Critical race theory, fracking and abortion were among the issues Republicans forced votes on.

Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton was successful with his amendment that bans federal funds from being used to teach critical race theory in schools.

Cotton introduced the Stop CRT Act last month in a bid to prevent federal tax dollars from being used to teach the “indoctrinating” theory in K-12 classrooms.

“They want to teach our children that America is not a good nation but a racist nation,” Cotton said on the Senate floor ahead of the vote.

“Those teachings are wrong and our tax dollars should not support them.”

Cotton called CRT an “un-American ideology.”

“My amendment will ensure that federal funds aren’t used to indoctrinate children as young as pre-K to hate America.

North Dakota’s Sen. Kevin Cramer sought to stop the Environmental Protection Agency from banning fracking, while Tennessee Sen. Bill Hagerty introduced an amendment calling for additional resources to deport criminal illegal immigrants.