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Senate approves 'clean' debt ceiling bill with help from senior Republicans Senate approves 'clean' debt ceiling bill with help from senior Republicans
(7 months later)
Senior Republicans in the US Senate provided crucial votes to ensure the passage of legislation that extended the federal borrowing requirement on Wednesday, giving in to the Obama administration’s demands for an increase to the debt ceiling without conditions. Senior Republicans in the US Senate provided crucial votes to ensure the passage of legislation that extended the federal borrowing requirement on Wednesday, giving in to the Obama administration’s demands for an increase to the debt ceiling without conditions.
The Democrat-controlled Senate eventually voted 55-43 to approve a “clean” hike in the debt ceiling, but only after top Republicans sided with Democrats to allow the measure to pass an earlier procedural vote. The Democrat-controlled Senate eventually voted 55-43 to approve a “clean” hike in the debt ceiling, but only after top Republicans sided with Democrats to allow the measure to pass an earlier procedural vote.
The action by the Senate, which followed approval of the measure in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, contrasted with lengthy showdowns in 2012 and last year when Republicans sought to use the debt ceiling as leverage to win concessions from Obama.The action by the Senate, which followed approval of the measure in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, contrasted with lengthy showdowns in 2012 and last year when Republicans sought to use the debt ceiling as leverage to win concessions from Obama.
They won about $2tn in spending cuts in 2011, but Obama has been unwilling to negotiate over the debt limit since his re-election. Wednesday’s legislation is the third consecutive debt measure passed without White House concessions. The measure now goes to Obama to be signed into law. They won about $2tn in spending cuts in 2011, but Obama has been unwilling to negotiate over the debt limit since his re-election. Wednesday’s legislation is the third consecutive debt measure passed without White House concessions. The measure now goes to Obama to be signed into law.
With their eye on November elections, Republicans have been less confrontational after a 16-day partial government shutdown in October last year sent their poll numbers tumbling, and chastened the party’s conservative Tea Party faction. With their eye on November elections, Republicans have been less confrontational after a 16-day partial government shutdown in October last year sent their poll numbers tumbling, and chastened the party’s conservative Tea Party faction.
Republicans have instead sought to focus voters’ attention on the implementation and effects of Obama’s healthcare law, which they have targeted as a weakness for the Democrats in an election year.Republicans have instead sought to focus voters’ attention on the implementation and effects of Obama’s healthcare law, which they have targeted as a weakness for the Democrats in an election year.
For a time on Wednesday, it appeared that the debt ceiling increase might not pass the Senate. Under a procedural measure insisted upon by Tea Party Republican Ted Cruz, 60 votes were required for the measure to move forward.For a time on Wednesday, it appeared that the debt ceiling increase might not pass the Senate. Under a procedural measure insisted upon by Tea Party Republican Ted Cruz, 60 votes were required for the measure to move forward.
After a delay of more than half an hour, the Senate’s top two Republicans, minority leader Mitch McConnell and his chief whip John Cornyn, voted “aye”, and several other Republicans switched their votes in solidarity. Twelve Republicans ultimately voted to help the measure advance but the tally appeared to be in doubt for several anxious minutes. After a delay of more than half an hour, the Senate’s top two Republicans, minority leader Mitch McConnell and his chief whip John Cornyn, voted “aye”, and several other Republicans switched their votes in solidarity. Twelve Republicans ultimately voted to help the measure advance but the tally appeared to be in doubt for several anxious minutes.
Cruz’s demands irritated Republicans because it forced several of them, particularly McConnell, to cast a difficult vote. “In my view, every Republican should stand together against raising the debt ceiling without meaningful structural reforms to rein in our out of control spending,” Cruz said. Cruz’s demands irritated Republicans because it forced several of them, particularly McConnell, to cast a difficult vote. “In my view, every Republican should stand together against raising the debt ceiling without meaningful structural reforms to rein in our out of control spending,” Cruz said.
The legislation would permit Treasury to borrow normally for another 13 months and then reset the government’s borrowing cap, currently set at $17.2tn, after that.The legislation would permit Treasury to borrow normally for another 13 months and then reset the government’s borrowing cap, currently set at $17.2tn, after that.
It passed the House on Tuesday after Republicans gave up efforts to use the debt ceiling measure to win concessions from Obama on Republican agenda items like winning approval of construction of the Keystone XL pipeline from Canada.It passed the House on Tuesday after Republicans gave up efforts to use the debt ceiling measure to win concessions from Obama on Republican agenda items like winning approval of construction of the Keystone XL pipeline from Canada.
Passage of the debt limit measure without any extraneous issues comes after House Republican leaders tried for weeks to find a formula to pass a version of their own that included Republican agenda items like repeal of an element of the healthcare law. But a sizable faction of House Republicans simply refuse to vote for any increase in the government’s borrowing abilities, which forced Republican House speaker John Boehner to turn to Democratic minority leader to pass the measure on the strength of Democrats.Passage of the debt limit measure without any extraneous issues comes after House Republican leaders tried for weeks to find a formula to pass a version of their own that included Republican agenda items like repeal of an element of the healthcare law. But a sizable faction of House Republicans simply refuse to vote for any increase in the government’s borrowing abilities, which forced Republican House speaker John Boehner to turn to Democratic minority leader to pass the measure on the strength of Democrats.
The debt measure permits Treasury to borrow regularly through 15 March 2015, putting the issue off until after the November elections and setting it up for the new Congress to handle next year. The debt measure permits Treasury to borrow regularly through 15 March 2015, putting the issue off until after the November elections and setting it up for the new Congress to handle next year.