U.S. Senate fails to advance debt ceiling, government funding measure: Senate Republicans Vote Down Pelosi's Debt Ceiling Bill, As Expected

Reuters ^ | 09/27/2021 | Richard Cowan and David Morgan

[SeekAndFind]

WASHINGTON, Sept 27 (Reuters) - A sharply divided U.S. Senate failed on Monday to advance a measure to suspend the federal debt ceiling and avoid a partial government shutdown, as Republican lawmakers denied the bill the votes necessary to move forward.

The legislation by President Joe Biden's Democrats was aimed at beating two fast-approaching deadlines that, if left unaddressed, threaten to destabilize the U.S. economy as it struggles to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The near party-line vote of 48 votes to advance against 50 opposed fell short of the 60 votes needed to push the bill ahead in the 100-seat Senate. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer voted "no" to allow him to call another vote.

Democrats who narrowly control both chambers of Congress now have just three days to find another way to keep the government operating beyond Thursday - when current funding expires.

Republican Senator Richard Shelby predicted that lawmakers would not resolve the standoff any time soon. "Probably will be here Thursday," he told reporters.

Lawmakers also will have to figure out how to raise the debt ceiling to head off the risk of default, with independent analysts warning that the U.S. Treasury Department is likely to exhaust its borrowing authority fully sometime between Oct. 15 and Nov. 4.

Schumer, who has warned that a default would hammer the economy, said afterward that Democrats would take further action this week to avoid a government shutdown and debt default. He did not specify what the next step would be.

"Our country is now staring down the barrel of two Republican-manufactured disasters," he said on the Senate floor after the vote.

A government shutdown - or worse, a default - would be a huge hit to Biden's Democrats, who have positioned themselves as the party of responsible government

[Java4Jay]

I’m considered essential, have to report but no paycheck.

[Java4Jay]

Principles come first in my book.

[Jonny7797]

“Our country is now staring down the barrel of two Republican-manufactured disasters,” he said on the Senate floor after the vote.

That’s rich coming from the democrats. I lost count but we are facing roughly 6 manufactured crisis thanks to them.

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

They always get their back pay.

Yes, they do. Absolutely correct.

[A Navy Vet]

"Barricades at the World War II Memorial were an insult to veterans. Isn’t the memorial a walk though memorial, with no federal employees? Just spiteful on Obama’s part, and Joseph Stolen is even worse."

I had forgotten about that. Just outrageous. I think his lame excuse was that it takes Fedgov employees to maintain the grounds. It seems after 4 years of true Americanism under Pres. Trump, I've forgotten or put aside how awful Obambi was and his VP. I feel a little ashamed.

[DoodleDawg]

The left spends money like they can just make it out of thin air, probably because that is exactly what they do.

And that differs from the Republicans how exactly?

[TwelveOfTwenty]

Øbama always made shutdowns as miserable as possible for patriotic Americans and Veterans. I expect his former Veep to do the same—on steroids.

Let them. If we're going to get our country back, we're going to have to take a few hits along the way.

[T Ruth]

shut the government down for two weeks to flatten the curve of democrat spending

Excellent!

[Mark17]

If the dems keep saying that this $3.5 trillion bill will cost $0, then why do they have to lift the debt ceiling?

They tend to, shall we say, stretch the truth a little bit? Most of us normal people, would call that lying. 😀😁😂