Senate to vote on giving Obama debt limit power
(Reuters) - The Senate is expected to vote on Thursday on legislation that would give President Barack Obama power to raise the Treasury Department's borrowing authority without congressional approval, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Democrat, said.
Senate theatrics over Obama debt limit plan
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced on the floor Thursday he planned to call Sen. Mitch McConnell's bluff and hold a vote on the president's proposal to deal with the debt limit.
McConnell had requested a vote on the offer in the morning that included the Obama administration’s offer on resolving the so-called fiscal cliff. It includes a permanent, “unlimited” debt limit hike with no spending cuts attached, along with a provision that would allow Congress to disapprove the debt increase. McConnell said President Barack Obama is “the last person who should have limitless borrowing power.”
In the morning, Reid swiftly objected to the idea. But then, in typical Senate theatrical fashion, Reid changed his mind said he wanted to hold a Thursday afternoon vote. A Democratic aide said the White House coordinated the move with Reid, and the Majority Leader had secured the 51 votes needed to pass the proposal on an up or down vote.
Reid, McConnell Duel over Obama's Debt-Ceiling demand
The Democratic and Republican Senate leaders tried to outmaneuver each other Thursday in a bid to gain political traction over President Obama's call for a permanent increase in the debt ceiling -- in the latest sign of how that demand has complicated negotiations over the looming fiscal crisis.
The political dance started a day earlier, when Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell tried to call a vote on Obama's fiscal plan which included granting the White House the ability to approve automatic increases in the debt ceiling. Democratic Leader Harry Reid blocked it, allowing McConnell to suggest even Democrats don't want Obama's plan to pass.
But then Reid turned around Thursday and proposed calling a vote in the afternoon on the debt-ceiling plan. Reid, though, wanted to call a simple majority vote -- McConnell objected, saying a 60-vote threshold was warranted. Reid in turn objected to that, and the entire vote was scuttled again.
Democrats emerged claiming McConnell had shot down his own proposal, though the proposal was actually Obama's.
Editor's Note: The very thought that the Democrats would consider giving the executive this kind of power should be more evidence of the Marxist nature of the party. . .
The political dance started a day earlier, when Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell tried to call a vote on Obama's fiscal plan which included granting the White House the ability to approve automatic increases in the debt ceiling. Democratic Leader Harry Reid blocked it, allowing McConnell to suggest even Democrats don't want Obama's plan to pass.
But then Reid turned around Thursday and proposed calling a vote in the afternoon on the debt-ceiling plan. Reid, though, wanted to call a simple majority vote -- McConnell objected, saying a 60-vote threshold was warranted. Reid in turn objected to that, and the entire vote was scuttled again.
Democrats emerged claiming McConnell had shot down his own proposal, though the proposal was actually Obama's.
Editor's Note: The very thought that the Democrats would consider giving the executive this kind of power should be more evidence of the Marxist nature of the party. . .
The Founding Fathers would be appalled.
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
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