McConnell-Schumer debt ceiling deal clears Senate procedural hurdle, Congress on path to avert default
Some Senate Republicans frustrated with McConnell deal
Rep. Van Duyne: Democrats realizing additional debt 'last thing they want'
Texas Republican weighs in on the Democrats' efforts to pass the rest of Biden's agenda before Christmas.
A deal between Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to allow the Senate to raise the debt ceiling with a simple majority cleared a key procedural vote Thursday, setting Congress on a glide path to averting a debt default.
The bill cleared a cloture vote 64-36, with 13 Republicans joining McConnell, R-Ky., to advance the bill.
This comes after months of Republicans saying they would not help Democrats raise the debt ceiling due to the partisan nature of Democrats' massive spending bills. Republicans demanded Democrats use budget reconciliation to raise the debt ceiling, but Schumer, D-N.Y., refused.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., arrives at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021, as a showdown looms with Democrats over raising the debt limit. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) (Associated Press)
Congress flirted with a debt default once in October before the two leaders came to a temporary deal. And the U.S. was set potentially default on its debt later this month with the expiration of that deal before McConnell and some Republicans backed this deal to let Democrats implement a longer-term debt limit extension.
"I believe we've reached here, a solution… that's consistent with Republican views of raising the debt ceiling," to a specific number, "and allows the Democrats to proudly own it, which they're happy to do," McConnell said earlier this week.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., speaks to reporters after a Democratic policy meeting at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021, as work continues behind the scenes on President Joe Biden's domestic agenda and a bill to fund (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite / AP Newsroom)
HOUSE PASSES PROCEDURAL BILL TO RAISE DEBT CEILING
The procedurally creative deal between McConnell and Schumer used a bill preventing Medicare cuts as a vehicle for language allowing the Senate to increase the debt limit via a simple majority vote on a one time basis. The Thursday afternoon vote pushed that bill past the 60-vote cloture hurdle, setting up a simple majority vote on final passage either later Thursday or Friday.
Once that bill is signed into law by President Biden, Congress will be able to pass a debt limit increase without having to navigate a filibuster in the Senate. That enables all Republicans to vote against the actual debt limit increase when it comes to the floor, likely next week.
Many Republicans were miffed at McConnell's handling of the debt limit, arguing that Republicans failed to stick to their red line on the issue.