Temporary US Budget Bill and Debt Ceiling Increase, Senate Simultaneous Approval Virtually Impossible

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] The U.S. Senate's attempt to raise the debt ceiling and pass a temporary budget bill has effectively failed. The Democratic Party is expected to activate a 'Plan B' to avoid a federal government shutdown and an unprecedented national default.

According to The Wall Street Journal, on the 27th (local time), the procedural vote on raising the debt ceiling and the temporary budget bill in the U.S. Senate failed to pass with 48 votes in favor and 50 against.

The Republican Party united to effectively block the bill passed by the Democratic-led House. The Democrats failed to secure the 60 votes needed to process the budget bill without legitimate procedural objections from the Republicans. This outcome was widely anticipated, as the Senate is split evenly with 50 seats each for Democrats and Republicans, and there were dissenting votes even within the Democratic Party.

Before the vote, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of the Democrats said, "The reason we are here is because the Republicans are trying to block payments by the federal government," expecting Republican dissenting votes, but it was to no avail.

U.S. media analyze that the budget cliff crisis, which is approaching at midnight on the 1st, has become even more severe.

The Democrats are reportedly planning to separate the temporary budget bill and the debt ceiling increase, processing the temporary budget bill first.

Politico reported that the Democrats believe the federal government shutdown must be prevented even if the debt ceiling increase is excluded. The Republicans also agree to handle the temporary budget bill and the debt ceiling increase separately.

Since a U.S. national default due to failure to raise the debt ceiling is expected around mid-next month, the Democrats aim to handle the urgent budget bill first.

The Democratic Party is also experiencing internal confusion. The $1 trillion infrastructure investment bill, which passed the Senate despite Republican opposition, faces uncertain voting outcomes due to divisions within the Democratic Party.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced on the same day that the $1 trillion infrastructure investment bill would be processed on the 30th, but progressive Democrats are pressuring that they will oppose the infrastructure bill if the social infrastructure investment bill is not expanded, making its passage uncertain.

In this situation, President Biden told reporters, "I was born an optimist," indicating that he is not greatly concerned about the current situation.