Senate allows Obama to borrow additional $1.9 trillion

[CMike]

Nice.

Senate permits govt to borrow an additional 19T - Road Runner

 

[Midnight Marauder]

From the article:

Senate Democrats needed all the 60 votes at their disposal Thursday to muscle through legislation allowing the government to go $1.9 trillion deeper in debt.Democratic leaders were able to prevail on the politically volatile 60-39 vote only because Republican Sen.-elect Scott Brown of Massachusetts has yet to be seated. Republicans had insisted on a 60-vote, super-majority threshhold to pass the measure. An earlier test vote succeeded on a 60-40 vote.

The measure would would put the government on track for a national debt of $14.3 trillion _ about $45,000 for every American _ and it served as a vivid reminder of the United States' dire fiscal straits.

The massive increase in the debt limit would allow majority Democrats to avoid another vote until after the midterm elections this fall. New estimates released by the Congressional Budget Office on Tuesday show that the U.S. this year could run a deficit matching last year's record $1.4 trillion shortfall.

 

[CMike]

This explains why they didn't swear Brown in yet.

 

[SFC Ollie]

We have to wonder why they are waiting to bring Brown on board. Seems as thought this vote was one reason. Funny Obama didn't mention this last night did he?

 

[Oddball]

I don't know why the demopublicraticans even pretend that the debt ceiling is something they're really concerned about.