Budget Crawl

In Washington, D.C., the Senate voted early Saturday to advance their budget resolution after a vote-a-rama, a key procedural step on the path towards “one big, beautiful bill” that addresses the expiring tax code, defense, immigration enforcement, and energy policy. The Senate plan allows for up to $5.3 trillion in tax cuts, which Republicans hope to exclude from the total cost of their bill by using a “current policy baseline” accounting approach. The Senate Parliamentarian, the chamber’s nonpartisan rule-keeper, has yet to decide whether that approach is permissible under the rules of reconciliation, although a joint meeting where both sides argue their case is likely to be held this week.

Any decisions from the Parliamentarian will be important. Republican Sens. Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, John Curtis, and John Cornyn met Thursday night with Senate Majority Leader John Thune. Those senators are warning that any run around the parliamentarian’s input could cause them problems in the coming months if the final bill doesn’t meet strict budget rules. “I think the recognition is, number one, we're not going to overrule the parliamentarian,” Cornyn said after the meeting. “And number two, if we tried, there wouldn't be the votes to do it.”

House Republicans have just one week to adopt the Senate’s version yet some members have concerns that the upper Chamber’s plan does not prescribe enough cuts to offset the costs of the bill. Given the time constraint, some GOP Senators are looking to the White House for reinforcements. Senator Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) offered, “At the end of the day, President Trump’s going to have to be involved, particularly in the House. If we’re getting hung up on the priorities of one or two House members, we need to get President Trump to get them to recognize what’s at stake if we fail.” 

More broadly, however, Trump may not be inclined to do Senate Republicans, and Tillis in particular, any favors. The North Carolina Senator signaled last week that he would support, and possibly co-sponsor, legislation introduced by Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) that would reassert congressional authority over tariffs. Under the plan, Congress would be required to approve any new tariffs within 60 days and would reserve the right to cancel a tariff at any time.

On Wednesday, four GOP Senators—Rand Paul, Susan Collins, Mitch McConnell, and Lisa Murkowski—voted with Democrats to reject the national emergency declaration Trump has used as legal justification for the 25% tariff on Canadian imports. Former Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell said in a statement, “Make no mistake: Goods made in America will be more expensive to manufacture and, ultimately, for consumers to purchase, with higher broad-based tariffs. At a time when Americans are tightening their belts, we would do well to avoid policies that heap on the pain. We ought to strengthen our friendships abroad and reinforce our allies as pillars of American prosperity and security.” The vote in the Senate is likely to remain largely symbolic as House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has made clear his conference has no appetite for departing from Trump. 

Johnson suffered an embarrassing defeat last week after failing to pass a rule that would have blocked Rep. Anna Paulina Luna’s (R-Fl.) bipartisan discharge petition to allow voting by proxy for new parents. Nine Republicans, including New York Reps. Mike Lawler and Nick LaLota, voted with Democrats against Johnson’s effort to block Luna’s petition. Johnson, who canceled votes for the rest of the week after his defeat, said, “Look, I’m a father, I’m pro-family. But I believe it violates more than two centuries of tradition and institution. And I think that it opens a Pandora’s box, where ultimately, maybe no one is here.” Trump seemingly endorsed Luna’s plan last week, telling reporters aboard Air Force One, “I don’t know why it’s controversial. I’m going to let the Speaker make the decision, but I like the idea.” Luna has said she has been in contact with Johnson regarding the path forward, including a potential compromise “limiting the vote to just new moms who cannot physically travel in event of emergency.”

Assemblyman Aron Wieder, Democrat representing New York’s 97th Assembly District, brings over two decades of dedicated public service and community leadership to Albany. A proud resident of Rockland County for more than 30 years, Aron lives in Spring Valley with his wife—a lifelong Rockland resident—and their two children.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, Aron graduated from Machzikei Hadas Yeshiva and continued his studies at a rabbinical college in Israel. His lifelong commitment to education and community engagement began early and has remained a central focus of his career.

Aron’s public service journey began in 2008 when he was elected to the East Ramapo School Board. As vice president and later president, he championed full-day kindergarten, improved the district’s graduation rate, and raised private funds to support programs like the East Ramapo Marching Band. His leadership earned him the prestigious Board Excellence Award from the New York State School Boards Association—the highest honor for a school board member in Rockland County—and a Certificate of Excellence from the Rockland County School Boards Association.

From 2009 to 2011, Aron served as Confidential Assistant to the Mayor of Spring Valley. Following the devastating 2010 earthquake in Haiti, he led a large-scale humanitarian effort, coordinating donations from local businesses and organizing a medical relief mission. His efforts earned recognition from the French-Speaking Baptist Church and other community organizations.

Elected to the Rockland County Legislature in 2011, Aron served four terms, where he emerged as a strong advocate for fiscal responsibility, property tax relief, and smart infrastructure investments. As Majority Leader and Chair of key committees, including Public Safety and Budget & Finance, he helped pass multiple budgets that reduced property taxes while maintaining vital county services.

One of his most significant accomplishments was leading the Stonehouse Road flood mitigation project—securing state and federal support to resolve a long-standing flooding issue in Spring Valley. The project remains the largest infrastructure initiative in the village’s recent history.

Now serving in the State Assembly, Aron represents District 97, which includes parts of Rockland County, including Spring Valley and surrounding communities. He continues to fight for fiscal discipline, safer neighborhoods, and improved quality of life for all residents. His record reflects a deep commitment to effective governance, social justice, and ensuring that government works for every family in his district. 

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