Those Annoying Limits

There is one provision in the deal passed yesterday in Washington that needs to be discussed.  It seems that Congress will no longer need to vote to approve increases in the debt ceiling.  The procedure has been changed so that the president notifies Congress that the ceiling needs to be raised and Congress then has 22 days to veto that move with what amounts to a two thirds vote.  To disguise the real meaning of this provision, the rule applies only to the next time that the debt ceiling needs to be raised.  Without a doubt, however, the increase in February will be enough to cover the remainder of Obama's presidency.  That means that Congress gave up its power to control the debt for the foreseeable future.

The worst part of this provision is that it got put into the bill at the behest of Mitch McConnell.

Amazing!