Senate Leaders Face-Off In Fight Over Debt Ceiling

The debate has heated up in the upper chamber as senators from both sides sparred over the debt ceiling. On Monday, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) took aim at one another amid the battle over who had control over the U.S. economy.

Schumer pointed his finger at Republicans by blaming the GOP for the U.S. legislature’s failure to fully fund the government by the start of the new fiscal year. He threatened if Republicans weren’t willing to pass the Democrat-led bills, Democrats would use their slim majorities to truck the bills through both chambers.

“We aren’t asking Republicans to support it when it comes time for a vote. We only ask that they get out of the way as Democrats pass it on our own, just as the majority party did in the early 2000s,” he stated. “…If Republicans want to vote to stop payments from going to Social Security recipients or veterans, then be my guest, but they ought to get out of the way and let the legislation pass the Senate.”

However, McConnell pointed out Democrats were having a tough time passing their agenda, despite controlling both chambers of Congress and the White House.