Senate Votes to End Debate on Debt Ceiling Increase

[Capt. Obvious]

Source: New York Times

Senate Republican leaders on Wednesday rescued a measure to raise the nation’s borrowing limit, overcoming a threatened filibuster from members of their own party and averting a potential shock to the economy.

A vote to cut off debate on the debt ceiling measure passed 67 to 31, after a dramatic scene on the floor when Republicans managed to muster 12 votes in support, clearing the way for final approval.

The legislation required 60 votes to clear a procedural hurdle and break a threatened filibuster after Senator Ted Cruz, Republican of Texas, said he planned to object to any effort to raise the debt ceiling with a minimum of 51 votes. But he failed in his attempt to unite Senate Republicans to prevent the increase.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/13/us/politics/senate-debt-ceiling-increase.html

[monmouth3]

1. Wonder if Cruz is fuming..I hope he is...LOL..

[Loaded Liberal Dem]

4. Poor Ted

Cruzing into the Bermuda Triangle of American history.....

[pampango]

2. "waited nearly a half-hour as their Republican colleagues refused to vote to end debate on the bill"

Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader, and Senator John Cornyn of Texas, the Republican whip, waited nearly a half-hour as their Republican colleagues refused to vote to end debate on the bill. When it was clear that the debt ceiling increase would fail, they stepped forward in tandem to deliver the deciding votes.

“In my view, every Republican should stand together against raising the debt ceiling without meaningful structural reform to rein in our out-of-control spending,” Mr. Cruz said Wednesday. However, when asked if he thought a default on the nation’s debt was an option, he said, “Of course not.”

Senate Republicans — unwilling to default on the nation’s debt but hoping to avoid voting for any debt ceiling increase — seethed at Mr. Cruz’s move, which many said was purely political and which forced them to scramble to produce at least five votes to end debate and move on to a final vote.

But Speaker John A. Boehner of Ohio was unable to rally his conference behind even a modest Republican policy proposal, and in violation of his own “Boehner Rule” — which calls for any increase in the debt ceiling to be offset by an equal spending cut or budgetary changes — the speaker ignored outside conservative groups and his party’s far right, passing the bill with Democratic support.

The usual clear thinking from Tea Party senator Cruz. "We should not pass an increase in the debt ceiling." Asked if default was an option, "Of course not." Clear thinking there senator. Would you rather have your cake or eat it?

[pampango]

9. Touche! :)

[BodieTown]

3. It's Galling...

...that a super-majority was needed, when a simple majority should have sufficed.

[Fred Sanders]

5. Commadant Cruz's gratutious crazy talk is not impressing too many people anymore, even cable news

media are getting embarrassed to give him any more coverage than necessary.

There are only so many Tpots you can get to adore you before their unbearable stupidity becomes boring.

The Tea Pots have lost the right wing media, except for Fox TV stations.

[lsewpershad]

6. Cruz lost his mojo

Hahaha

[lark]

7. Suck on it, Teddy boy!

You lost, you teabag liar, ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!