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The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday:
The U.S. Senate, in an unusual procedure, cleared the way Thursday for the U.S. to lift its borrowing authority by $500 billion to $15.19 trillion, enough to keep the support federal government borrowing through late January or early February.
The action came under an unusual legislative procedure spelled out under the August agreement to raise the U.S. debt ceiling and avoid a U.S. credit default. In a 52-45 vote, the Senate blocked an attempt by Republicans to slow down the process that will result in the $500 billion debt-ceiling increase.
Only one Democrat broke party ranks to vote with the Republicans in trying to slow down the measure–Senator Ben Nelson, a Nebraska Democrat. The article reminds us:
The next increase in the borrowing limit, likely in the first quarter of next year, will be dependent on the ability of a panel of 12 lawmakers to reach a deal that cuts at least $1.2 trillion from federal budget deficits over the next decade.
The procedure used to vote on the increase was part of the debt ceiling worked out with President Obama in August. The bottom line here is that the spending continues unchecked as Congress goes on its merry way. It’s time to replace those in Congress who are continuing the spending with people who understand the fact that they are spending the taxpayers’ money–not their own.
