US Senate votes to raise debt cap, reopen government

[webfact]

US Senate votes to raise debt cap, reopen government

WASHINGTON: -- The Senate voted to raise the US debt limit ahead of a Thursday deadline and reopen the federal government, sending the legislation to the opposition-controlled House of Representatives for approval.


-- The Nation 2013-10-17

[webfact]

US Senate passes legislation to avert default, fund government and raise debt limit ceiling

WASHINGTON: -- The US Senate, racing to avert a government default, on Wednesday passed legislation raising the Treasury Department's borrowing authority and sent the measure to the House of Representatives for final passage.

The legislation also would end a partial government shutdown by providing new funds for federal agencies that have been closed since Oct. 1.

The US Senate approved a deal on Wednesday to end a political crisis that partially shut down the federal government and brought the world's biggest economy to the edge of a debt default that could have threatened financial calamity.

The Republican-controlled House of Representatives was expected to take up the measure later on Wednesday after Speaker John Boehner dropped the party's efforts to link the spending measure to changes in President Barack Obama's healthcare law.

The deal, however, offers only a temporary fix and does not resolve the fundamental issues of spending and deficits that divide Republicans and Democrats. It funds the government until Jan. 15 and raises the debt ceiling until Feb. 7, so Americans face the possibility of another government shutdown early next year.

Full stpry: http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2013_10_17/US-Senate-passes-legislation-to-avert-default-fund-government-and-raise-debt-limit-ceiling-6822/

-- THE VOICE OF RUSSIA 2013-10-17

[Patje]

Way to go , make more debt .......The solution from the " leaders" of the world.

Print some more $ boys !!!!

[boomerangutang]

The outrageous spending - all across the board for Fed (and States) would be ludicrous, were it not so grave. There is so much gross waste and cheating in the system, it's hard to know where to start to comment on it. If some people who thought like me were in charge, Fed spending would come down by 30%.

[webfact]

Obama to sign budget-debt bill immediately after House acts

WASHINGTON: -- US President Barack Obama declared that he will sign the debt and budget agreement immediately after it arrives on his desk, which is expected to happen late Wednesday after a vote in the House of Representatives.

The agreement means the government, which has been partially closed for 16 days, will be ready to reopen immediately after his signature, Obama said. The long-sought breakthrough will "remove the threat of default from our economy."

Obama, speaking at the White House after the Senate passed the measure 81-18, declared his readiness to work with "anybody" - Democrat or Republican - on any idea "that will grow our economy." He thanked the leaders of both parties for "getting us to this point."

He said however there was "a lot of work ahead of us including our need to earn back the trust of the American people."


-- The Nation 2013-10-17

[notmyself]

Another thread which will show that Republicans don't know the difference between deficit and debt. Obama is trying to reduce the deficit so as to be able to pay off the debt. If outgoings are higher than income then the is no money to pay off the debt. Is nothing is spent then there is no chance of income, you need to speculate to accumulate. Basic 101 math and nothing more. This is why the whole world except for the Republicans living in their bizarre bubble were quite simply laughing at the US as a whole. So 'we' need to stop extremists in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran when all the while US extremists shut down the US for two weeks. Unless the US gets rid of these backwards f***s they will do it themselves, on themselves.

[notmyself]

Just out of interest... How many times did Bush v2 raise the debt ceiling and by how much? A dozen times and by 4T or was it more?

[Scott]

Posts have been deleted. This is not a continuation of the nonsense from a closed thread.

Stay on the topic of the raised debt cap and the OP.

[Baloo22]

Just out of interest... How many times did Bush v2 raise the debt ceiling and by how much? A dozen times and by 4T or was it more?

Out of control debt-fueled spending and raising the debt ceiling was not a good idea back then either. Perhaps the years right after 9-11 when we were getting on a war against the Taliban, but in the latter years, no not a good idea. When you find yourself in continuous cycles of spend and charge it, and your debt continues to grow and grow, the second-best time to stop it is now. Unless you have a time machine that we don't know about.

Since this topic is about raising the debt-ceiling, perhaps we should examine what our current president has had to say about raising the debt ceiling in the past and now. This is, with zero doubt, "On-Topic" !!!

[NeverSure]

No, this is only through the 7th of February when it will be back. It wasn't Boehner, but rather the Senate who caved, and brokered the deal after Senate majority leader Reid swore he wouldn't negotiate.

"The bill was the result of a deal brokered by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell earlier Wednesday. It funds the government through Jan. 1 and suspends the nation's debt limit through Feb. 7." Link

Edited October 17, 2013 by Mario2008

[willyumiii]

The outrageous spending - all across the board for Fed (and States) would be ludicrous, were it not so grave. There is so much gross waste and cheating in the system, it's hard to know where to start to comment on it. If some people who thought like me were in charge, Fed spending would come down by 30%.

I know, I know...

If people who thought like me were in charge, the world would be a perfect place....for me!

[StevieH]

No, this is only through the 7th of February when it will be back. It wasn't Boehner, but rather the Senate who caved, and brokered the deal after Senate majority leader Reid swore he wouldn't negotiate.

"The bill was the result of a deal brokered by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell earlier Wednesday. It funds the government through Jan. 1 and suspends the nation's debt limit through Feb. 7." Link

are you claiming this as a 'victory' for the republican party? honestly?

[chuckd]

At least one Republican Party member won out in this deal. The guy that led the Senate versions of the CR.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mitch McConnell gets nearly $3 billion for Kentucky dam project in congressional deal

Eric Pfeiffer, Yahoo News By Eric Pfeiffer, Yahoo News

5 hours ago

.

Mitch McConnell's home state won nearly $3 billion in new funding for a long-standing project (AP)

Most experts agree that there were no real winners in the government shutdown debate. And many political forecasters say the brunt of fallout from the debate over the shutdown and the debt ceiling is likely to hurt Republican lawmakers.

However, the nation’s leading Republican senator came out of the deal far from empty handed. That’s because it’s been reported that Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell secured language in the new government funding bill that includes nearly $3 billion for a dam project in his home state of Kentucky.

Article continues here: http://news.yahoo.com/congressional-deal-includes-nearly--3-billion-for-kentucky-dam-project-001012679.html

[Mario2008]

1 post referring to a politician with his incorrect name removed. 2 quotes of that post also removed.

[JLCrab]

There are 1191 days until the US Presidential Inauguration Friday January 20, 2017, when all of the country's fiscal woes can be solved.

Edited October 17, 2013 by JLCrab

[StevieH]

There are 1191 days until the US Presidential Inauguration Friday January 20, 2017, when all of the country's fiscal woes can be solved.

hillary clinton is going to immediately raise taxes, legalise all drugs and abolish the armed forces?

[hellodolly]

The outrageous spending - all across the board for Fed (and States) would be ludicrous, were it not so grave. There is so much gross waste and cheating in the system, it's hard to know where to start to comment on it. If some people who thought like me were in charge, Fed spending would come down by 30%.

I am with you. I firmly believe they could do it. My deceased mother worked for the welfare system. she said a client with no identification could come in and claim benefits. All they had to do was bring some one in to verify they were who they said they were.

I would not be a bit surprised if that situation has been changed as it has been a long time.

But what I believe has gotten even worse was the fact that the money had to go through 19 levels of bureaucracy to get to the client. It would require a lot of government employment cutting.

I wonder if the Senate and the house would be willing to start the ball rolling with cutting some of their perks and ridicules retirement plans. Then go after there military. They spend more on it than the next five countries combined and are so insecure with all that protection that they make it hard for many foreigners to get a visa for a vacation there.

Here are the 2011 figures.

WORLD Gross Domestic Product Military Spending state GDP rank % GDP

mil rank Military spending WORLD $70,155,374,950,000 $2,157,172,000,000 United States $14,120,000,000,000 2 5.2% 17 $741,200,000,000 China $8,818,000,000,000 3 4.3% 23 $380,000,000,000 India $3,680,000,000,000 5 2.5% 62 $92,000,000,000 Russia $2,116,000,000,000 8 3.9% 27 $82,500,000,000 Saudi Arabia $590,900,000,000 23 10.0% 3 $59,090,000,000 France $2,094,000,000,000 9 2.6% 57 $54,444,000,000 United Kingdom $2,123,000,000,000 7 2.4% 63 $50,952,000,000

Edited October 17, 2013 by hellodolly

[SinglePot]

Good morning guys.

Wow.

Can I make an observation from across the pond please?

I appreciate the concerns of seniors like chuckd who have paid into government spending programs big time long time.

I have done the same in the UK.

I also appreciate the point of view of many of the other posters who make the case for provision of basic human rights for the less well off.

My position on this: if I was an American I would support the concept of Obamacare or something very similar to it.

BUT. And this relates to the OP we are now discussing.

If government spending is wasted on inefficient systems, whether it's road building, refuse collection, healthcare or whatever, it is money down the drain.

I get the impression that some Obamacare money is not being spent in the most efficient way. I am not suggesting there is corruption but unless the actual healthcare service providers buy into the concept of high quality healthcare for all American citizens there will be profits made at the expense of hard earned government and chuckd's money.

We have seen this across the pond. NHS efficiency is on the government table every day. Adjustments and revisions, sometimes big changes are made by successive governments.

I make the case for the continuation of programs such as Obamacare for the good people of America. But the money needs to be spent wisely.

[JLCrab]

There are 1191 days until the US Presidential Inauguration Friday January 20, 2017, when all of the country's fiscal woes can be solved.

hillary clinton is going to immediately raise taxes, legalise all drugs and abolish the armed forces?

Hillary Clinton? Up-to-you.

[Publicus]

No, this is only through the 7th of February when it will be back. It wasn't Boehner, but rather the Senate who caved, and brokered the deal after Senate majority leader Reid swore he wouldn't negotiate.

"The bill was the result of a deal brokered by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell earlier Wednesday. It funds the government through Jan. 1 and suspends the nation's debt limit through Feb. 7." Link

Reid said he would NEVER negotiate defunding ObamaCare under threat of a government shutdown.

Sen Reid said he would NEVER negotiate defunding ObamaCare under threat of a debt ceiling default.

Republicans in Washington 100% FAILED to defund ObamaCare. Republicans in Washington 100% failed to cause a government debt default.

Sen Reid stood firmly on each of these points, and Sen Reid prevailed over the Republicans in Congress - he won.

Sen Reid started negotiating only after the Republicans in the Congress abandoned their "Plan 9 From Outer Space" attempt to defund ObamaCare and only after Republicans failed trying to cause a "Plan 9" government debt default.

In other words, Sen Reid prevailed in his absolute refusal to negotiate until after Republicans quit their efforts to defund ObamaCare and to have a government debt default..

If I were strictly partisan, which I'm not, I should hope that after the new year when funding the government and increasing the national debt come up again, the Republicans close the government again and start their preschooler rants and rages again, because it will virtually guarantee the Republicans lose majority control of the House in the Congressional elections November next year.

Any Republican in Washington who says Reid caved is still following the completely failed Plan 9 From Outer Space.

Edited October 17, 2013 by Publicus

[chuckd]

Just out of interest... How many times did Bush v2 raise the debt ceiling and by how much? A dozen times and by 4T or was it more?

Not wishing to see another of your posts go to waste, let me see if I can provide the answer.

1. The debt ceiling under GWB was raised a total of 7 times, for an increase of $5.365 Trillion (From $5.95 Trillion to $11.315 Trillion)

2. The debt ceiling under Obama has now been raised a total of 6 times for an increase of $5.385 Trillion (From $11.315 Trillion to $16.7 Trillion)

3. This latest debt ceiling increase is the 7th time for the Obama administration to secure an increase but I have been unable to determine exactly what the new debt ceiling amount is now pegged at. Senator Reid initially wanted $1 Trillion, which if approved would raise the new debt ceiling to $17.7 Trillion.

Uhhhh, just for the record.

Bush was in office over an 8 year period. Obama has been in office for only four years and nine months.

Thirty nine more months to look forward to on this little problem.

[hellodolly]

Good morning guys.

Wow.

Can I make an observation from across the pond please?

I appreciate the concerns of seniors like chuckd who have paid into government spending programs big time long time.

I have done the same in the UK.

I also appreciate the point of view of many of the other posters who make the case for provision of basic human rights for the less well off.

My position on this: if I was an American I would support the concept of Obamacare or something very similar to it.

BUT. And this relates to the OP we are now discussing.

If government spending is wasted on inefficient systems, whether it's road building, refuse collection, healthcare or whatever, it is money down the drain.

I get the impression that some Obamacare money is not being spent in the most efficient way. I am not suggesting there is corruption but unless the actual healthcare service providers buy into the concept of high quality healthcare for all American citizens there will be profits made at the expense of hard earned government and chuckd's money.

We have seen this across the pond. NHS efficiency is on the government table every day. Adjustments and revisions, sometimes big changes are made by successive governments.

I make the case for the continuation of programs such as Obamacare for the good people of America. But the money needs to be spent wisely.

Yes it is time the Americans start to grow up and realize they no longer have to hunt for their meals. Personal freedom is a great thing but in the year 2013 they should be thinking of all citizens. Obama-care is a good step in that direction. It is a given that there will be inefficient use of it and corruption but it is a start. It definatly needs working on and I don't think any one in the Democratic party disagrees with that. It is how ever a start. You can not fix any thing if you don't start it.

The republicans had there chance in 1994 when they completely shut any efforts down to bring in medical help for all Americans. A project initiated under A democrat Bill Clinton and headed up by his wife. It is time that the Republican party start to look to the welfare of all Americans not just big business.

I may be completely wrong but I believe the Democrats would be much more willing to work with them if they would show a little more concern about the people and less concern for the dollar. This would in turn bring about more give and take on both sides. As I say I may be wrong on this and if I am wrong it is a sad thing for the average tax paying American. It would speak more to certain individuals desire for power. Let us remember that the presedent is limited to 8 years the rest of the gang is unlimited in how long they can hold their power.

If you feel I am wrong step forth and say so. Just remember I am thinking long term not today all though I believe it could happen today but we all know there are those unwilling to let go of their power just like that even if it helps the American people. such people can be found in Governments all over the world.

[SinglePot]

Perennial, universal problem for the civilised world.

A country makes money.

A country equitably distributes that money.

In the grand scheme of things I would adopt a Native American approach in favour of the emerging China approach.

UK, US, Europe. In the middle?

Christ knows what's going on in the Middle East.

We rent this place, we don't own it.

Wealth creation, equitable distribution, concern for the planet.

Anybody fancy a large Jack Daniels or a cup of Tea.

Good luck Mr Obama. Your lady is wise.

SP

[chuckd]

Just out of interest... How many times did Bush v2 raise the debt ceiling and by how much? A dozen times and by 4T or was it more?

Not wishing to see another of your posts go to waste, let me see if I can provide the answer.

1. The debt ceiling under GWB was raised a total of 7 times, for an increase of $5.365 Trillion (From $5.95 Trillion to $11.315 Trillion)

2. The debt ceiling under Obama has now been raised a total of 6 times for an increase of $5.385 Trillion (From $11.315 Trillion to $16.7 Trillion)

3. This latest debt ceiling increase is the 7th time for the Obama administration to secure an increase but I have been unable to determine exactly what the new debt ceiling amount is now pegged at. Senator Reid initially wanted $1 Trillion, which if approved would raise the new debt ceiling to $17.7 Trillion.

Uhhhh, just for the record.

Bush was in office over an 8 year period. Obama has been in office for only four years and nine months.

Thirty nine more months to look forward to on this little problem.

Quoting myself to add forgotten link:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/Historicals/

[Berkshire]

No, this is only through the 7th of February when it will be back. It wasn't Boehner, but rather the Senate who caved, and brokered the deal after Senate majority leader Reid swore he wouldn't negotiate.

"The bill was the result of a deal brokered by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell earlier Wednesday. It funds the government through Jan. 1 and suspends the nation's debt limit through Feb. 7." Link

Eh, you're sure about that? "We fought the good fight; we just didn't win," Boehner told a radio station in his home state of Ohio.

I watched CNN this morning and pretty much every Republican was demoralized, admitting defeat. Not only did they lose this battle, their brand took a huge hit. Nevermind trying to win back the Senate, the Republicans will most likely lose majority in the House this coming primary. Time to turn out the lights at GOP headquarters.

[Publicus]

There are 1191 days until the US Presidential Inauguration Friday January 20, 2017, when all of the country's fiscal woes can be solved.

The future, Mr Gitts, the future.

[Publicus]

Just out of interest... How many times did Bush v2 raise the debt ceiling and by how much? A dozen times and by 4T or was it more?

Out of control debt-fueled spending and raising the debt ceiling was not a good idea back then either. Perhaps the years right after 9-11 when we were getting on a war against the Taliban, but in the latter years, no not a good idea. When you find yourself in continuous cycles of spend and charge it, and your debt continues to grow and grow, the second-best time to stop it is now. Unless you have a time machine that we don't know about.

Since this topic is about raising the debt-ceiling, perhaps we should examine what our current president has had to say about raising the debt ceiling in the past and now. This is, with zero doubt, "On-Topic" !!!

Debt Ceiling.jpg

Republicans voted for the $1 trillion war in Iraq and for the Bush tax cuts for the rich, but vote to kill Food Stamps for the unhappy underemployed during this Great Recession and for the involuntarily unemployed.

Now the spendthrift Republicans tried to shut down the federal government and went off the deep end trying to cause a sovereign debt default. "Plan 9 From Outer Space" was a silly 1950s sci fi movie but it's become a 21st century Washington Republican party unreal reality.

Nancy Pelosi on the House Floor pointed out today the shutdown cost the taxpayers $24 billion.

Physician, heal thyself.

[Jingthing]

The tea party, the dangerous and destructive revolutionary nihilist troublemakers behind this recent near disaster, which did indeed cause massive damage to the American brand globally (thanks for nothing!) are wounded by this clear defeat. But they are not finished. They are the worse kind of fanatics. As I've said before, they are indeed more of a threat to modern America than Iran, which is also a real threat, but the tea party sadly still has power WITHIN the U.S.A.

Happily, Obama has rediscovered his gonads. More please, President.

This from a very well respected moderate American political commentator, Mr. Zakaria:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/fareed-zakaria-conservatism-needs-to-lighten-up/2013/10/16/49418e5c-3692-11e3-80c6-7e6dd8d22d8f_story.html?hpid=z4

... Even after the worst recession since the Great Depression, there are no obvious radicals, anarchists, Black Panthers or other revolutionary movements — save the tea party.

For some tacticians and consultants, extreme rhetoric is just a way to keep the troops fired up. But rhetoric gives meaning and shape to a political movement. Over the past six decades, conservatism’s language of decay, despair and decline have created a powerful group of Americans who believe fervently in this dark narrative and are determined to stop the country from plunging into imminent oblivion. They aren’t going to give up just yet.

The era of crises could end, but only when this group of conservatives makes its peace with today’s America. They are misty-eyed in their devotion to a distant republic of myth and memory yet passionate in their dislike of the messy, multiracial, quasi-capitalist democracy that has been around for half a century — a fifth of our country’s history. At some point, will they come to recognize that you cannot love America in theory and hate it in fact?

Edited October 17, 2013 by Jingthing

[quiuvo]

The crises is over but you will not let me post it in world news!

[webfact]

End of US shutdown: 'reaction of American people is very, very negative, and I understand this' - McCain

WASHINGTON: -- At the moment what US President Barack Obama was signing the legislation that ended the US government shutdown and raised the US debt ceiling, the Voice of Russia correspondent, Ludmila Chernova, was at Capitol Hill.

Republican senator John McCain, was there as well, speaking with the BBC about the future of the US economy after the Senate and Congress managed to reach a deal, and what the Republicans are going to do next.

What is your reaction at the end of the government shutdown?

Of course, relief that it’s over. It is kind of hard on us but, of course, not nearly as hard on us as it was on all the Americans who depended on our government – not just those who are government workers but those who work for government, contractors who will never be compensated for what they’ve lost. So, I’m very relieved, and all three – the President, the Democrats, and the Republicans – are now much lower in the public opinion, only Republicans are the most.

What does it tell us about your party? Because the biggest relief has been within the Republican Party. They’ve been divided and they’ve taken the nations to the brink.

What it means is that we are going to continue a debate within our party as to the correction of the party and how we should handle things first. And part of that debate is America’s role in the world. People want to live in a fortunate America, so there’s gonna be a spirit of debate in our party.

Full story: http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2013_10_17/End-of-US-shutdown-reaction-of-American-people-is-very-very-negative-and-I-understand-this-McCain-9360/

-- THE VOICE OF RUSSIA 2013-10-17