Senate Fails to Take Up Republican Debt-Disapproval Resolution

The Senate refused to take up a Republican resolution that would bar a $5 billion increase in the U.S. debt limit.

Senators voted 52-45 today not to consider the measure. Senate Minority Leader McConnell offered the resolution under a procedure set up by legislation approved last month to raise the debt limit by at least $2.1 trillion.

The procedure allows Congress to try to avert phased-in rises in the limit through disapproval resolutions. Even if Congress approved the resolution, there would be little chance of it mustering the two-thirds majority in both chambers needed to override a veto by President Barack Obama.