Senate votes to raise debt ceiling, now it goes to House

Congressional Democrats passed a debt ceiling increase and sent it to President Joe Biden’s desk early Wednesday, the deadline that Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned could mark the start of the first-ever U.S. default.

The president is expected to sign the borrowing limit hike just hours before the Treasury Department forecasts it would exhaust its tools to pay the government’s bills — an outcome that could upend the U.S. economy.

The Democratic-held Senate and House passed the debt ceiling increase with only one Republican vote. The Senate approved the measure in a 50-49 party-line vote late Tuesday afternoon. The House followed early Wednesday, passing it by a 221-209 margin as only one GOP representative joined every Democrat.

Once signed by Biden, the resolution would increase the debt ceiling by $2.5 trillion. On Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said the measure will raise the borrowing limit “to a level commensurate with funding necessary to get into 2023.”

Yellen estimated the U.S. would run out of ways to pay its debt on Dec. 15. If Congress does not raise the debt ceiling before the Treasury misses a payment, the country would default for the first time. The Treasury secretary said she expects the U.S. would slip into a recession if Washington failed to make its debt payments.

Last week, 14 Republicans joined every Democrat to allow a one-time vote to lift the debt ceiling with a simple majority. The agreement, crafted by Schumer and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., ended the GOP’s months long threat to filibuster a borrowing limit hike.

The deal allowed Democrats to increase the debt limit on their own without needing the 60 votes usually required to break a filibuster. The Senate is split 50-50 by party, but Vice President Kamala Harris did not need to break a tie because Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., missed the votes Tuesday.

Democrats and Republicans typically vote together to raise or suspend the debt ceiling. This time, however, the GOP has contended Democrats should increase the borrowing limit on their own as they try to pass a $1.75 trillion social safety net and climate package despite Republican opposition.

“Honestly, I think some of these programs would be a bad idea if the money were free,” Sen. Pat Toomey, a Pennsylvania Republican, said of Democrats’ Build Back Better plan Tuesday morning on CNBC’s “Squawk Box.”

“The idea that we’re going to throw thousands, and thousands, and thousands of dollars at American families who have plenty of income — who have income that’s multiples of the median income. We’re going to give them free programs and free money because they have a child — what is that really accomplishing?” Toomey added. “Other than undermining a sense of personal responsibility and independence?”

Raising the debt limit does not authorize new government spending. Instead, it’s akin to an increase in a consumer’s credit card borrowing limit and allows the Treasury Department to continue to pay off the nation’s bills.

Yellen often notes that Republicans and Democrats would have had to raise or suspend the debt limit even if Congress had passed zero legislation in 2021.

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[Pound_Shift]

Never trust a company that’s 29 trillion dollars in debt

[koalaman]

I remember a couple years ago the government prevented me from registering my car because of unpaid property tax( $150) . So why exactly does the government get to owe 29 trillion and still spend when I wasn't even allowed to register a car because of 150 bucks

[trollking]

I promise you, they will never stop voting to raise the debt ceiling until the whole thing collapses on itself. 100% guarantee. 👌

[PM-zucz]

Way to kick the can into the next election cycle. Can't see anything possibly going wrong with this...

[c.m.]

"Disaster is almost averted." - It already is a disaster. Either way must be nice for these politicians to keep that income stream coming along with premium healthcare services. Keeps them alive till they are 90 years old in office.

[danjenkins]

It’s not gonna stop until we make it stop.

[danny_dan]

Requesting a credit limit increase on a credit card when the card is maxed out, is not the solution.

This is no different.

DISLIKE

[npc]

The only way to fix this would be a complete overhaul of our government because we all know congress would not vote for term limits or to reduce their pay checks and benefits.

[parrishparrish]

STOP COUNTERFEITING and SPENDING MONEY YOU DON'T HAVE...

[TB-cqzj]

Balanced budget amendment. Term limits. Age limits for politicians just like there are for the military.

[nathanas]

I think they should raise the debt ceiling to 100T. That way they can avoid having to do it all the time and spend time coming up with other wacky legislation

[donnyg.]

This vote should be paired with a mandatory DECREASE in spending!!!!

[fakenewsmindcontrol]

Let's get those inflation numbers into the double digits.

[rons]

Senate votes for more inflation and a lower American standard of living.

[HigherQualityUploads]

We'll default eventually, and it'll get worse and worse the longer it's put off. Just do it now. Get it over with.

[TB-cqzj]

Balanced budget amendment, term limits, age limits for office.

[pyrorock]

You know what both parties have in common? They both like to RAISE DA ROOF!

[tubby_]

I wish I could up my credit limit this easily

[dougjohnson]

raising the debt limit so we can go further into debt isn't paying our bills.

[redriveraerialphotography]

As long as the House and Senate agree to no paychecks for either until it's paid off. Completely wrong way to go!