WORLD
US House and Senate divided over debt ceiling issue
Baku, July 30 (AZERTAC). The US Congress has split along party lines as it seeks a solution to an ongoing deadlock over raising the nation's debt limit.
The House of Representatives passed a Republican bill proposed by Speaker John Boehner, but that was quickly killed by the Democratic-led Senate.
Senate leader Harry Reid is now seeking a vote on a rival plan he proposed.
The US risks defaulting on its financial obligations if a federal budget deal is not struck by 2 August.
The Boehner plan includes some $900bn of spending cuts and would raise the debt ceiling by a similar amount.
However it would require another vote during mid-2012 and includes language in support of a so-called "balanced budget amendment" to the US constitution - both rejected by the White House and the Senate leadership.
The House vote was delayed from Thursday after Mr Boehner struggled to win over a number of staunchly conservative Republicans, including newly elected representatives who back the Tea Party.
The plan eventually passed the House by 218-210, with 22 Republicans and every Democrat voting against.
Before the vote, Mr Boehner said the plan advanced the "great cause" of a balanced budget amendment.
Mr Boehner appeared heated in front of his colleagues in the House, slamming his fist on a podium on Friday evening and calling for lawmakers to pass his proposal.
Mr Boehner said Republicans had tried their "level best" to reach a deal.
"I stuck my neck out a mile to get an agreement with the president of the United States," Mr Boehner said, referring to negotiations with President Barack Obama that twice broke down.
Shortly after the House passed its bill, the Democratic-led Senate voted to reject the Boehner plan in a late-evening vote on Friday.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid accused the Republicans of seeking to filibuster, or delay, proceedings by forcing a vote on his rival plan to achieve a 60-vote "supermajority" before passing.
Speaking after the Senate adjourned for the night, he accused his Republican counterpart of not being willing to negotiate.
Democrats say the Republican bill as passed would cause immeasurable damage to the economy because it would force Congress to vote on another extension of the debt ceiling early in 2012, a time when presidential election campaigns will be in full swing.