Senate votes to raise ceiling on government’s debt by $290 billion to $12.4 trillion
By APThursday, December 24, 2009
Congress raises debt ceiling to $12.4 trillion
WASHINGTON — The Senate voted Thursday to raise the ceiling on the government debt to $12.4 trillion, a massive increase over the current limit and a political problem that President Barack Obama has promised to address next year.
The Senate’s rare Christmas Eve vote, 60-39, follows House passage last week and raises the debt ceiling by $290 billion. The bill permits the Treasury Department to issue enough bonds to fund the government’s operations and programs until mid-February. The Senate will vote again on the issue on Jan. 20.
Obama must sign the measure into law to prevent a market-rattling, first-ever default on U.S. obligations. The government piled up a record $1.4 trillion deficit in 2009 to counter a meltdown in financial markets and help bring the nation out of its worst recession in seven decades.
The early-morning vote followed the Senate’s passage of a landmark bill to overhaul the nation’s health care system. They were the Senate’s last votes of the year.
Tags: Barack Obama, Christmas, Christmas eve, Health Care Reform, North America, Political Issues, Senate, United States, Washington
