OutloudOpinion » 19t

Dems finagle $1.9T rise in debt cap

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 10:01:10 +0000

It took legislative acrobatics and some hard swallowing by Democrats, but Congress on Thursday sent President Obama a bill that raises the country’s borrowing level by a staggering $1.9 trillion to cover this year’s record spending. After jamming the bill through the Senate last week before they lost their filibuster-proof majority, Democrats used their overwhelming numbers and some legislative maneuvering to push a $14.3 trillion debt ceiling through the House. Democrats got no help from Republicans, and lost the votes of 37 members of their own caucus, squeaking out a 217-212 win. To make the vote more palatable, Democrats immediately …

Senate permits gov’t to borrow $1.9T more

ASSOCIATED PRESS — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 19:16:28 +0000

WASHINGTON (AP) — Majority Democrats in the U.S. Senate muscled through legislation Thursday that would allow the government to go $1.9 trillion deeper in debt. Democratic leaders were able to prevail on the politically volatile 60-39 vote only because Republican Sen.-elect Scott Brown of Massachusetts has yet to be seated. Republicans had insisted on a 60-vote, supermajority threshold to pass the measure. An earlier test vote succeeded on a 60-40 vote. The measure would put the government on track for a national debt of $14.3 trillion, or about $45,000 for every American, and it served as a vivid reminder of …