Texas senators Ted Cruz, John Cornyn split on key vote concerning nation’s debt

Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz split on a vote Thursday afternoon for a measure that essentially ensures the United States does not run out of money this month.

Cruz called the position of Cornyn and the 13 other Republicans, 48 Democrats and two independents who voted to keep the debt limit increase moving “a mistake.”

For months, Congress has been divided along partisan lines over raising the debt limit, which increases how much money the country can borrow to pay outstanding debts.

While Democrats and Republicans have generally agreed that raising the debt ceiling is necessary, they’ve disagreed on just how to do that.

With Republicans reluctant to vote on a debt limit increase, Senate leaders devised a two track process leading to approval.

First came a procedural vote on limiting debate on the matter. That needed 60 votes. Cornyn voted to limit debate. Cruz did not.

“We have an amazing way around here to take small, relatively insignificant things and to blow them up into major drama,” Cornyn said of the controversy about the vote to limit debate.

Since enough senators voted to cut off debate, the legislation to raise the debt limit now requires only 51 votes to pass. Democrats control 50 seats in the Senate, and Vice President Kamala Harris can break the tie in favor of the Democrats.

Cornyn said this will “make the Democrats own the debt ceiling increase.” He plans to vote against it.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., helped lead the effort to limit debate on the legislation. It is rare for enough Republicans to agree to limit debate on a vote.

Cruz told the Star-Telegram Thursday that by voting to limit debate, the senators are assisting Democrats’ contributions to the debt. But raising the debt limit does not authorize new spending. It helps pay unpaid bills.

The Treasury Department has cautioned that the U.S. would run out of money on Dec. 15 if Congress does not act.

There would be catastrophic effects if the country runs out of money, experts have warned, and global markets could also be thrown into turmoil.

Treasury earlier this year cautioned that the country would run out of money in mid-October. Congress passed a short-term measure at the time that delayed the country running out of money until December.

This story was originally published December 9, 2021 at 2:02 PM.