A short-term government funding bill that included language to raise the US debt ceiling failed its first test vote in the Senate Monday, leaving Congress …
A short-term government funding bill that included language to raise the US debt ceiling failed its first test vote in the Senate Monday, leaving Congress just days to figure out a plan to avert a looming government shutdown. An effort to begin debate on the measure failed 50-48, with 49 Republicans voting against it. The attempt had needed 60 votes to succeed. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), initially voted “yes,” but changed his vote to “no” in order to potentially bring the issue to another vote at a later date. Schumer had opted to bring the measure to the floor despite warnings from Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) that the majority of his conference would not support the measure due to its provision increasing the federal government’s borrowing limit. Shortly before the vote, McConnell attempted to remove the debt ceiling provision from the bill by getting unanimous consent from his colleagues, but Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) objected. “For more than two months now, Senate Republicans have been completely clear about how this process will play out,” McConnell said on the Senate floor earlier Monday. “So let me make it abundantly clear one more time: We will support a clean continuing resolution that will prevent a government shutdown, get disaster relief to Louisiana, help properly vetted Afghanistan refugees who put themselves on the line for America, and support the Iron Dome assistance for our ally, Israel.
