Lunacy, sheer lunacy: Senate passes $1.2 trillion 'minibus' in 74-24 vote | 23 March 2024 | The Senate on Saturday morning passed the second half of the nation's annual budget. The upper chamber approved the measure in a 74-24 vote after the House did so 286-134 on Friday. Part of a two-step effort, the legislation follows the first half of the package securing legislative approval earlier in the month. That measure included $460 billion to cover six of the 12 annual appropriations bills that fund the government. The process of finalizing the year's budget has been extended multiple times, due in part to disagreements within the House Republican Conference over whether to seek deeper spending cuts.