http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/budget/327363-reid-wants-1t-debt-hike-to-end-of-2014Reid wants $1T debt hike to end of 2014
By Alexander Bolton - 10/08/13 07:32 PM ET
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is moving legislation to push the debt limit until Dec. 31, 2014, well beyond next year’s midterm election.
Senate aides estimate the bill would increase federal borrowing authority by about $1 trillion.
The administration estimates the nation will hit its $16.7 trillion debt ceiling on Oct. 17 although in recent days experts have said that deadline may be flexible.
In 2011, President Obama insisted the debt limit be pushed until after the 2012 election, so that he would not have to deal with it again before Election Day.
Now it is Senate Democrats who don’t want to face double jeopardy before voters decide whether they get to keep their majority.
Obama undercut Democrats Tuesday when he announced he would be willing to sign a short-term debt limit extension into law.
Several Senate Republicans including Sens. Lindsey Graham (S.C.) and Saxby Chambliss (Ga.) said they may support clean short-term debt-limit extensions to give leaders more time to negotiate.
Graham suggested an extension covering the next 30 to 45 days.
