U.S. Senate Votes 50-49 to Raise the Debt Limit By $2.5T After One-Time Filibuster Exemption Deal

Today, Senators voted 50-49 along party lines to raise the debt ceiling by $2.5 trillion after a deal for a one-time filibuster exemption.

The deal, negotiated by House Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has been criticized by many conservatives including former President Donald Trump.

U.S. Sen Raphael Warnock (D-GA) is now calling for Democrats to potentially try to do this with other legislation they want passed.

In a tweet, Warnock declared, “Last week the Senate changed its rules to address the debt ceiling while allowing the ceiling of our democracy to crash around us.”

“I just left the floor of the Senate where I addressed this body—and this nation—on why we must act NOW to pass federal voting rights legislation,” Warnock explained.

Last week the Senate changed its rules to address the debt ceiling while allowing the ceiling of our democracy to crash around us.

I just left the floor of the Senate where I addressed this body—and this nation—on why we must act NOW to pass federal voting rights legislation. pic.twitter.com/c2Y3Cgzpo3

— Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (@SenatorWarnock) December 14, 2021

This is undoubtedly a dangerous precedent that will ultimately come back to bite Republicans in the future, although it could conceivably also affect Democrats if the Republicans take back the Senate.

As we previously reported:

Former President Donald Trump had a lot to say today after Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell struck a deal with Democrats to raise the debt ceiling.

According to reports, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and McConnell reached an agreement to create a one-time process that would let Democrats raise the debt ceiling on their votes alone.

The situation is essentially an end around that allows the debt ceiling to be raised without Republicans in the Senate having to vote for it.

The House reportedly took the first step to implement the plan yesterday by voting to pass new legislation that will set up the debt limit process.