Headline RoundupOctober 8th, 2021

Dems and GOP Strike Short-Term Deal on Debt, but Larger Divide Remains

Summary from the AllSides News Team

Democrats and Republicans have reached a temporary solution to the nation's debt limit dilemma, but the partisan split on how to solve the problem remains. 

Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y) accepted an offer Thursday from Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to raise the debt limit by $480 billion, which is expected to last into December. Eleven Republicans and the 50 Democratic senators voted to break a filibuster on the matter Thursday evening, and the actual measure then passed by a 50-48 party-line vote. It is widely expected to pass the House. Schumer later criticized Republicans, saying "they played a dangerous and risky" game by opposing the debt measure until that point. Republicans say Democrats should use budget reconciliation to raise the debt limit to a fixed amount by themselves, since they hold the majority and already plan to use the process to pass trillions of dollars in new spending. Democratic leaders say they won't, arguing that the process should be bipartisan. The U.S. Treasury previously warned of an economic recession if the limit wasn't boosted by mid-October.

Coverage across the spectrum highlighted the remaining partisan divide and ultimately unresolved debt limit issue, as well as Republican disapproval of McConnell's offer; some Republican lawmakers and right-rated voices criticized McConnell for purportedly caving to Democrats. Reports from the right also focused on Republican criticism of Schumer's comments after the speech. 

Featured Coverage of this Story

More headline roundups

AllSides Picks

More News about Economy and Jobs from the Left, Center and Right

From the Left

From the Center

From the Right