Republicans fail to stop US debt ceiling increase
Source: Agence France-Presse
Republicans fail to stop US debt ceiling increase
(AFP) 3 hours ago
WASHINGTON The Democratic-led Senate on Thursday saw off a Republican bid to stop the US debt ceiling being raised, ensuring that the Obama administration has no repeat of last year's borrowing stand off.
The Republican motion was defeated with 52 voting against to 44 in favor, with government debt currently at $15.194 trillion and set to rise to more than $16 trillion by the end of 2012.
The vote was a move by Republicans to heap scorn on President Barack Obama, whom they decry as an out-of-control spender and are seeking to oust in November's elections.
The vote defeat effectively ensures that the administration can pay the nation's bills until the end of the year, although Obama and the Republican-led Congress remain deadlocked over measures to bring down the debt.
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