- Title: U.S. Senate Democrats brace for loss in showdown vote on debt ceiling
- Date: 27th September 2021
- Summary: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (SEPTEMBER 27, 2021) (SENATE TV) WIDE OF SENATE CHAMBER (SOUNDBITE) (English) SENATE MAJORITY LEADER, CHUCK SCHUMER [D-NY], SAYING: "At the end of last week, I filed cloture on proceeding to the continuing resolution sent to us by the House of Representatives, which, among other things, would prevent a government shutdown and suspend the debt limit so we can pay for our debts incurred during the previous administration. In a few hours, we will vote on cloture on the motion to proceed to this bill. The Democrats will do the responsible thing, the right thing, the thing that's been done for decades by both parties, and vote yes. Now, if Republicans follow through with their plans to vote no, they will be on the record, deliberately sabotaging our country's ability to pay the bills and likely causing the first-ever default in American history." (SOUNDBITE) (English) SENATE MAJORITY LEADER, CHUCK SCHUMER [D-NY], SAYING: "None of this needs to happen, none of it. The only reason we are here, the only reason this is even a possibility is that Republicans are making this a possibility by preventing the government from paying its bills. It's an unhinged position to take, one that not long ago, only the most radical elements of the Republican Party would have embraced." WIDE OF SENATE CHAMBER (SOUNDBITE) (English) SENATE MINORITY LEADER, MITCH MCCONNELL [R-KY], SAYING: "We will support a clean continuing resolution that will prevent a government shutdown, get disaster relief to Louisiana, help properly vetted Afghan refugees who put themselves on the line for America, and support the Iron Dome assistance for our ally, Israel. We will not provide Republican votes for raising the debt limit. As we speak, Democrats are behind closed doors, assembling a multi-trillion-dollar reckless tax and spending spree. There's no chance Republicans will help lift Democrats' credit limit so they can immediately steamroll through a socialist binge that will hurt families and help China." (SOUNDBITE) (English) SENATE MINORITY LEADER, MITCH MCCONNELL [R-KY], SAYING: "Before we vote this afternoon, I'll ask consent to strike the partisan CR that is dead on arrival and instead have the Senate vote on a clean continuing resolution that could pass this chamber easily." WIDE OF SENATE CHAMBER
- Embargoed: 11th October 2021 21:11
- Keywords: Biden Congress Senate budget infrastructure reconciliation shutdown
- Location: WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES
- City: WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Topics: Budget/Taxation/Revenue,Government/Politics,United States
- Reuters ID: LVA001EWHYMO7
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The Democrats who control the U.S. Senate were bracing for a likely loss on Monday (September 27) in a vote on a bill to fund the federal government and lift the nation's debt ceiling, as President Joe Biden's party fought over the details of his sweeping social agenda.
If Republicans carry out a threat to block the legislation, which has already passed the House of Representatives, to fund the U.S. government through Dec. 3 and suspend the nation's borrowing limit until the end of 2022, that will leave Democrats just three days to find another way to keep the government operating beyond Thursday - when current funding expires.
Lawmakers also will have to figure out how to raise the debt ceiling to head off the risk of default, with independent analysts warning that the U.S. Treasury Department is likely to exhaust its borrowing authority fully sometime between Oct. 15 and Nov. 4.
Senate Majority Chuck Schumer on Monday (September 27) urged Republicans to reverse course and abandon "an unhinged position" in opposition to raising the debt limit.
If Congress fails to extend the government's borrowing authority in a timely way, "Republicans are intentionally making default more likely," Schumer said.
Democrats are eager to avoid the drama of a default as they try to project competence after four years of Republican Donald Trump's chaotic presidency.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has not said what his next move is if the Monday night vote fails, though Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said on Monday they would vote for a funding extension if the language suspending the government's $28.4 trillion debt limit were removed.
"Before we vote this afternoon, I'll ask consent to strike the partisan CR [Continuing Resolution] that is dead on arrival and instead have the Senate vote on a clean continuing resolution that could pass this chamber easily," McConnell said.
Republicans have said they want Democrats to lift the debt limit on their own, saying they do not support their upcoming spending plans. Democrats point out that much of the nation's new debt was incurred during Trump's administration.
In the meantime, Democrats are at odds over two pillars of Biden's domestic agenda: a $1 trillion infrastructure bill and a larger $3.5 trillion social spending package.
The rift risks derailing Biden's presidency and the party's hopes of keeping its congressional majorities in next year's midterm elections.
Biden spent the weekend negotiating with lawmakers over the phone, according to administration officials. The White House is trying to determine how much they will be able to spend and how to raise offsetting revenue, with an eye toward what can pass the Senate, which Democrats control only through Vice President Kamala Harris' tie-breaking vote.
The House was expected to take up the infrastructure bill on Monday. But Speaker Nancy Pelosi delayed a vote on the legislation until Thursday to provide more time to broker an agreement on Biden's more sweeping social plan. She is due to preside over a party meeting on Monday evening.
(Production: Ashraf Fahim) - Copyright Holder: SENATE TV (USA)
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2021. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
