Senate approves bipartisan deal for debt limit increase, overcoming GOP filibuster
The Senate voted by a healthy 64-36 margin on Thursday to pass a bipartisan agreement to raise the debt ceiling, overcoming a Republican filibuster and likely averting another last-minute rush to avoid a devastating federal default.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) was able to deliver 14 Republican votes to advance the bill and end the debate. That was the most precarious and unpredictable vote in the process. Now that it’s been cleared, Democrats can use their majority to pass the fast-track bill and then later — likely next week — pass the debt ceiling increase itself.
“This is the responsible path forward,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. “No brinksmanship, no default on the debt, no risk of another recession.”
The agreement to attach the debt ceiling provision to an unrelated but popular Medicare bill was forged by GOP Minority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Majority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.)
Still, it wasn’t an easy lift for McConnell. Republicans complained privately and on the Senate floor about the deal. While they will not have to vote for the debt limit increase, they had to facilitate getting to the final vote.
“A deal has been made to give us — some of us see it this way anyway — a choice between voting for a heart attack or cancer,” said Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., who voted against advancing the plan.
The vote came hours after Trump trashed his longtime nemesis, McConnell, for going along with the deal.
“McConnell just folded on the Debt Ceiling, a total victory for the Democrats,” Trump said late Wednesday in an email message.
“The Old Crow is a disaster!” the former president added, using his favorite derisive nickname for McConnell.
Other Republicans said the United States should not send signals to the rest of the world that cast doubt on its creditworthiness.
“It was the right thing to do because the last thing in the world that this country needs is a default,” said Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska.
The bill establishes a one-time, expedited process for the Senate to pass a debt ceiling increase by a specific amount with a simple majority. It was combined with unrelated Medicare legislation that will prevent payment cuts to doctors and other health care providers.
With News Wire Services
