Key debt-limit vote sparks major fight among Senate Republicans
By Alexander Bolton - 10/07/21 08:05 PM EDT
A key procedural vote to pave the way for a $480 billion increase in the debt limit sparked a major fight in the Senate GOP conference late Thursday afternoon that left Senate Republican leaders uncertain whether they have the 10 votes they need to avoid a major embarrassment on the Senate floor.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Minority Whip John Thune (R-S.D.) acknowledged to GOP colleagues during a 90-minute closed-door meeting in the Capitol that they did not yet have the 10 Republican votes needed to end a filibuster on a controversial debt limit deal and asked colleagues for help.
One Republican called the meeting “very contentious” and described “widespread frustration” in the room.
The lawmaker said McConnell and Thune both acknowledged that they didn’t have the 10 votes they needed to reach 60 and overcome a filibuster to set up a final up-or-down vote on a debt limit deal McConnell and Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) announced on Thursday morning.
The deal would require Democrats to vote to raise the debt limit to a higher fixed number instead of simply voting to suspend the debt ceiling until sometime after the 2022 midterm election.
If Congress votes to raise the debt limit by $480 billion, lawmakers would not have to grapple with the issue again until sometime in December or January.
more
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/575878-key-debt-limit-vote-sparks-major-fight-among-senate-republicans
