Both Democratic and Republican leaders tried to claim political victories after ending weekslong Senate debt ceiling standoff. But Majority Leader Chuck Schumers' attack on the GOP Thursday night made a key centrist angry enough to leave the Senate floor.
After 11 GOP legislators helped Democrats pass a crucial extension to the federal government borrowing authority, Sen. Joe Manchin (West Virginia Democrat) buried his head in the hands of Schumer while Schumer delivered a tirade against Republicans.
Manchin, who was addressing reporters during the speech, walked off the podium and said to them, "Civility is gone."
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Schumers speech is not new. After spending disputes, party leaders fight for the microphone to proclaim victory.
Republicans won their victory lap by claiming that Democrats were forced into following the GOP plan to extend the debt limit for three months rather than a longer extension of the debt limit lasting until December 2022.
Schumers' attack was directed at the GOP senators who are most likely to work together on bipartisan deals. These are hard to achieve in Congress these days.
After a vote to extend borrowing authority for the Treasury Department to Dec. 3, Senate Republicans realized that obstruction wasn't going to work. Schumer made this declaration in a speech. I thank, very much thank, my Democratic colleagues for showing our unity in solving this Republican-manufactured crisis. Our caucus held strong despite the opposition of Leader [Mitch] McConnell, his conference members, and we pulled our country back from where Republicans wanted to push it.
After leaving the Senate chamber Manchin said that Schumers speech was inappropriate. He said that we must de-weaponize. It is not possible to play politics. Both sides are guilty of this.
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Manchin was a leading advocate for bipartisan Senate agreements and has fought to eliminate the filibuster. This would allow the Democrats to pass any legislation with 50 votes instead the 60 required by the GOP.
Manchin wants Democrats to find a way for Democrats to win at most 10 GOP votes in order to pass legislation.
Manchin and other legislators said that Schumer's speech does not help to bridge the political divide.
Senate Minority Whip John Thune (South Dakota Republican) and other GOP Senators. After the speech, Susan Collins from Maine and Mitt Romney from Utah approached Schumer and said that his remarks were inappropriate.
Three Republicans were among 11 GOP lawmakers that voted in favor of extending the debt limit.
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On Thursday, McConnell (a Kentucky Republican) gave a victory speech. He reiterated the GOP's position that Democrats have enough time for a long-term extension to the debt limit.
McConnell stated in his floor speech, that Democrats accepted his offer of averting a debt ceiling crisis Schumer created by refusing unilateral action.
McConnell stated that the Senate is moving towards the plan I presented yesterday to avoid a manufactured crisis for the American people. We stepped in because the majority didn't have a plan for preventing default.
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Tags: News, Congress, debt limit, Mitch McConnell, Chuck Schumer, Joe Manchin, Bipartisanship
Original Author: Susan Ferrechio
Original Location: "Civility has gone": Manchin attacks Schumer broadside for his criticism of the GOP
