Senator Tim Kaine confirmed he will chair the Senate Budget Committee next year
and said he intends to use budget reconciliation — the Senate process that
permits passage with a simple majority — to deliver relief to households. He
signaled plans to reverse cuts to Medicaid and SNAP, curb funding for overseas
military actions he described as "illegal and stupid," and boost spending on
education, housing, workforce training, healthcare and infrastructure. Kaine
also pledged to act to prevent automatic Social Security benefit cuts in coming
years while addressing the rising federal debt.
