Senate Fails to Advance Resolution Blocking Debt Limit Increase

Washington, DC
Thursday, January 26, 2012

By a Senate vote of 44 to 52, Senators failed to advance a resolution blocking a $1.2 trillion debt ceiling increase.

Senators Ben Nelson (D-NE) and Joe Manchin (D-WV) joined 42 Republicans to approve the motion to proceed. Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA) voted along with 49 Democrats and two Independents against the motion to proceed. Four Senators were absent for the vote: Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), Bob Corker (R-TN), Mark Kirk (R-IL) and John McCain (R-AZ).

The House voted last week to block the increase. With the failed Senate vote, the measure now goes to the President who is likely to veto the measure. In that case, the House and Senate would have to come up with a 2/3 majority to override the veto.

The House is not in session today. Democratic members are in Cambridge, Maryland for their annual issues conference.

Updated: Friday, January 27, 2012 at 12:38pm (ET)

Related Events

Senate Hearing Discusses Government Role in Energy Innovation
Tuesday Washington, DC

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee holds a hearing on the role of government in energy innovation. Witnesses included former Lockheed Martin CEO Norman Augustine.

More Info »

Senate Hearing Examines Federal Government's Foreign Language Skills
Monday Washington, DC

A Senate Homeland Security Subcommittee holds a hearing on the shortage of foreign language speakers in the federal government. Senator Daniel Akaka (D-HI) chairs the hearing.

More Info »

Hearing Discusses Tsunami-related Ocean Debris Reaching U.S. Coastlines
Thursday Washington, DC

A Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Subcommittee held a hearing on ocean debris from the 2011 Japanese tsunami. The debris is reaching U.S. coastlines more quickly than the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted.

More Info »

FBI Director Testifies at Senate Judiciary Oversight Hearing
Wednesday, May 16, 2012 Washington, DC

The Senate Judiciary Committee holds an oversight hearing on the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). FBI Director Robert Mueller testifies.

More Info »

Violence in the Pre-Civil War Congress
Saturday, May 12, 2012 Milwaukee, WI

Yale history professor Joanne Freeman and University of Chicago political science professor William Howell are interviewed about acts of violence in the U.S. Congress leading up to the Civil War, and congressional checks on war powers in the modern era. Professor Freeman is working on a book titled "Field of Blood: Congressional Violence in Antebellum America." Professor Howell has written about congressional checks on presidential war powers. The interview was recorded at the Organization of American Historians meeting in Milwaukee.

More Info »

Lawmakers Evaluate the Readiness of U.S. Forces
Thursday, May 10, 2012 Washington, DC

The Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support holds a hearing on the readiness of U.S. forces as they consider legislation to authorize defense programs for fiscal 2013.

More Info »

Senate Subcmte. Discusses Extending National Flood Insurance Program
Wednesday, May 9, 2012 Washington, DC

Senate Banking Subcommittee on Economic Policy Chairman Jon Tester (D-MT) said a long-term extension of the National Flood Insurance Program was “imperative.” Senators Tester and Vitter (R-LA) support bi-partisan legislation which allows a five-year extension, an insurance rate increase up to 15%, instead of the current 10% a year and forgives $18 billion in debts for the federal program, most from large payouts after Hurricane Katrina and Rita in 2005.

More Info »

More Events »

Share This Event Via Social Media

Related Resources

Summary of H J Res 98

Photo Gallery

Congress, Politics, Books
and American History