The US House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed on Wednesday legislation negotiated by President Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy to suspend the debt ceiling to avoid a default.
The House voted 314-117 to send the legislation to the Senate, which must enact the measure and get it to US President Joe Biden's desk. A total of 71 Republicans and 46 Democrats opposed it.
The clock is ticking for the Congress and the Administration. As the default date approaches on the fifth of June, according to the US Department of the Treasury, eyes are on the Senate which hasn’t started to look into the 99-page bill.
The bill requires the approval of all 100 members in order to directly vote on its content without adding amendments.
The Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has failed so far to convince his colleagues to let go of their reservations and abstain from suggesting amendments. If this happens, then the voting could fail to meet the deadline.
However, the main obstacle that faces the bill is the Democrats who objected to the Administration’s approval of the Mountain Valley Pipeline.
Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine, who helped kill off the pipeline’s progress late last year, told reporters “I’m insisting on an amendment.”
“I have had to defeat this already four or five times, and I have been able to do it. I never thought they’d put it on a debt ceiling bill,” he added.
Despite reservations, the debt ceiling will likely be raised. The question is: will this happen before June 5?
