Washington — The US Senate narrowly passed a 2018 federal budget on Thursday, clearing the way for President Donald Trump’s controversial tax overhaul that includes $1.5-trillion in tax cuts. The Republican measure, which passed along party lines, is a largely symbolic gesture. But importantly, it includes special instructions that allow Trump’s party to pass historic tax reforms with a simple majority vote. "With this budget, we’re on a path to delivering much needed relief to American individuals and families who have borne the burdens of an unfair tax code for entirely too long," Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell said immediately following the 51-49 vote. Trump hailed the vote as "an important step in advancing the administration’s pro-growth and pro-jobs legislative agenda," saying it "creates a pathway to unleash the potential of the American economy through tax reform and tax cuts". Nine months into his presidency, Trump’s tax gambit is the last chance to salvage key plan...
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