US Senate fails to advance gov’t funding, debt ceiling measure

The US faces two looming deadlines on government funding and the country’s debt ceiling that could destabilize the economy.

Iran PressAmerica: The US Senate has failed to advance a measure that aims to avert a partial government shutdown and suspend the federal debt ceiling after Republicans refused to support the proposal in the sharply divided chamber of Congress.

Senate Democrats were unable to pass legislation on Monday that would confront two fast-approaching deadlines that, if left unaddressed, threaten to destabilize the United States economy as it struggles to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Republicans secured enough 'no' votes to prevent the measure from advancing under Senate rules requiring 60 of the chamber’s 100 members to approve most legislation.

Democrats, who narrowly control both chambers of Congress, now have just three days to find another way to keep the government operating beyond Thursday – when current funding expires.

Lawmakers will also have to figure out how to raise the debt ceiling to head off the risk of default, with independent analysts warning that the US Treasury Department is likely to fully exhaust its borrowing authority sometime between October 15 and November 4.

Republicans have said they want Democrats to lift the debt limit on their own, saying they do not support their upcoming spending plans. Democrats point out that much of the nation’s new debt was incurred during Trump’s administration.

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