Mitch McConnell Bails Out Chuck Schumer On Debt Limits And SpendingThe Federalist, Dec 8, 2021, Christopher Jacobs
Just when Democrats and their agenda continue to flounder, along comes Mitch McConnell to give them another lifeline.
Rather than using the mismanagement of the Senate by Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to extract concessions, McConnell gave two huge concessions to bail Schumer out of his self-inflicted wounds. A bill introduced on Tuesday would allow for another increase in the debt limit, and forestall expected Medicare reductions that are a sole result of Democrats’ disastrous agenda. It’s all part-and-parcel of the McConnell approach—to lose as efficiently as possible.
The bill contains two components. One would create a process allowing a “one-time only” increase in the debt limit to pass on an expedited basis in the Senate. The increase must occur between now and January 15, and must contain a whole-dollar amount increase in the limit. The language means that Democrats could not just vote to suspend the limit, and allow the Treasury to incur unlimited debt between now and a certain date.
The one-time debt limit increase resolution complying with this process could pass after 10 hours of debate and without amendment. Effectively, then, passing this bill would allow Democrats to pass the subsequent resolution (likely within the next 7-10 days) increasing the debt limit on their own—i.e., with 50 Democrat votes in the Senate—and without the potential of a Republican filibuster.
I previously explained that, at present, Democrats cannot pass
any debt limit increase on their own, unless all 50 Democratic senators agree to abolish the filibuster, which several Democrats have said they will not do. As a result, McConnell and Senate Republicans have immense leverage to demand policy concessions—for instance, a halt to Democrats’ plans to ram the Build Back Bankrupt plan through Congress. Here, as in October, McConnell has chosen not to use the leverage he has.
If you think that’s bad enough, as the old infomercial saying goes, "But wait—there’s more!”
More:
https://thefederalist.com/2021/12/08/mitch-mcconnell-bails-out-chuck-schumer-on-debt-limits-and-spending/
