Story highlights Vote-a-rama is a typically annual ritual when senators can offer many amendments

Many of the amendments are aimed at political messaging designed to inflict damage

(CNN) The Senate voted Thursday to pass a budget resolution for next year that is mostly significant because it could make it easier for Republicans to pass major tax cuts, a top GOP priority.

The 51 to 49 vote was split mostly on party lines. Only GOP Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky voted no.

To help speed tax reform, Republican leaders in the House and Senate worked with the White House to craft a technical amendment that would clear the way for the House to take up the Senate version and pass it as is, according to two GOP sources. That took a logistical hurdle out of the way, underscoring GOP desire to move forward on the tax overhaul as soon as possible.

It would also mean the Republicans who control the Senate could pass a tax bill with 51 votes, not the 60 often needed for major bills.

President Donald Trump hailed the budget's passage on Twitter Friday morning, saying it clears the way for "large scale Tax Cuts (and Reform), which will be the biggest in the history of our country!"

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