Schumer organizes Wednesday’s vote to suspend debt ceiling

Majority leader in the Senate Charles SchumerChuck Schumer Struggling over Biden’s Agenda: A Tale of Two Democratic Parties Arizona Democrats’ frustration with Sinema climaxes Trump teases Schumer about occasional Ocasio-Cortez challenge MORE (DN.Y.) will try again on Wednesday to push forward a debt ceiling suspension bill, amid a lingering deadlock over the country’s borrowing limit.

Schumer on Monday night held a vote for Wednesday where he will need 60 votes to break a blockade and move forward with the suspension of the debt ceiling until December 2022.

That would require 10 Republicans to break ranks in the Senate 50-50, which is extremely unlikely.

“Before the end of this week, the Senate must – must – deliver a bill to the president’s desk to deal with the acute debt limit crisis,” Schumer said from the room on Monday.

“Even a near miss can have dramatic consequences – every day we delay action, we increase the chances of causing irreversible damage to our global financial system, to our economic recovery and to confidence in our country’s ability. to pay his debts, “added Schumer. .

Republicans have repeatedly signaled that they have no intention of allowing a majority vote on increasing the debt or helping them get the 60 votes needed to break an obstruction. Leader of the minority in the Senate Mitch mcconnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnell White House seeks to reverse agenda price debate Biden sees support for independents drop Hill’s morning report – Brought to you by Alibaba – Democrats still at odds on order of the day from Biden PLUS (R-Ky.) Reiterated on Monday that it was up to Democrats to raise the debt ceiling.

Although the debt ceiling returned on August 1, the Treasury Department has used extraordinary measures to maintain the country’s creditworthiness since then. Congress has until Oct. 18 to raise the debt ceiling or risk a historic default that would have significant and widespread economic consequences.

Republicans have twice blocked Democrats from passing a debt ceiling suspension. The first time, Democrats tried to include it in a short-term government funding bill. McConnell then blocked an attempt by Schumer to bypass the 60-vote obstruction and sent a simple majority vote on a stand-alone debt suspension bill.

McConnell sent Biden a letter on Monday urging him to get Schumer and Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiBiden travels to Michigan to promote agenda amid internal Democratic feuds Schumer sets one-month goal to pass two Christie spending bills: 2020 Joe Biden “is now officially dead and buried.” MORE (D-Calif.) To agree to raise the debt ceiling themselves through reconciliation, a budget process that allows them to bypass filibuster.

“The majority must stop sleepwalking towards another preventable crisis. Democrats must tackle the debt ceiling. We gave them a roadmap and three months’ notice. I suggest our colleagues move on, ”McConnell added from the Senate Monday.

Democratic leaders have so far ruled out putting reconciliation on the table, noting that Republicans could allow them to raise the debt ceiling with just their votes by not demanding 60 votes for a government bill. stand-alone debt ceiling.

But some Democratic senators are opening the door to using the budget process if they can’t find another way to increase the country’s borrowing limit.

“We have a few other tools that we can use. It’s taking a bit of time. It’s going to be a bit of a pain, long votes-a-ramas,” the senator said. Joe manchinJoe ManchinManchin clashes with fellow Democrats over fossil fuel demands Schumer sets a one-month target for passage of two Jayapal spending bills: a $ 500 billion reconciliation bill “ne will not happen “MORE (DW.Va.) told reporters on Monday.