UPDATED: Senate To Pass Debt Limit Hike Today

[DonViejo]

Last edited Wed Feb 12, 2014, 04:31 PM - Edit history (2)

Source: TPM

SAHIL KAPUR – FEBRUARY 12, 2014, 11:51 AM EST

Senate leaders have reached an agreement aimed at wrapping up passage of the House-passed "clean" debt limit increase on Wednesday, according to Democratic and Republican leadership sources.

They have scheduled two back-to-back votes starting at 1:45 p.m. First there'll be a "cloture" motion to advance the bill, at a 60-vote threshold, and then final passage, requiring 51 votes. "We are confident that we'll be well over 60 votes," said a Democratic leadership aide. "Once cloture is invoked, time will be yielded."

That means lawmakers like Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), who strongly oppose the debt limit hike, won't use up debate time to slow down final passage. A Cruz aide told TPM only that he'll insist on a 60-vote threshold.

After those two votes, the Senate will vote to approve the House-passed bill to reverse recently enacted cuts to military retirement benefits.

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Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/senate-poised-to-pass-debt-limit-bill

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Update

Congress passes increase in debt limit after dramatic vote

The Senate passed a suspension of the limit on federal borrowing Wednesday, ensuring that the Treasury does not default on its more than $17 trillion debt for another year. With the Republican-controlled House approving the "clean" debt ceiling increase Tuesday without any concessions, the legislation now goes to President Obama for his signature. The final passage came after a dramatic, hour-long vote to end debate and assure Republicans did not filibuster the legislation.

Read more at:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/02/12/senate-to-vote-on-debt-limit-increase-vote-early-this-afternoon/?tid=hpModule_ba0d4c2a-86a2-11e2-9d71-f0feafdd1394

[Loaded Liberal Dem]

1. Somebody send Cruz on a Cruise into the Bermuda Triangle!

[Zambero]

2. No more Dr. Seuss bedtime stories from the Senate floor

....with Cruz's over-extended 15 seconds of fame having already been expended.

[alp227]

3. Wait. Why the heck did Boehner's House pass a plain debt limit bill THIS time?

because they KNOW that another hostage situation will lose them votes in November? Somebody please provide me context.

[Demeter]

4. Because the DEMOCRATS voted for it.

It wasn't the GOP. Boehner went into the vote knowing his side wouldn't support it, but the man was in a bad place any way you slice it.