The debt bill is expected to get more than 40 Senate Democratic votes, which means it would likely need at least 10 to 20 “yes” votes from Senate Republicans to get to President Biden’s desk before the June 5 deadline set by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell on Sunday came out strongly in favor of the deal negotiated between Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) but he faces a brewing rebellion on his right flank.
Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) has threatened to use “every procedural tool at my disposal” to slow down the bill while Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) is demanding a vote on his “conservative alternative,” which would cut total federal spending by $545 billion over two years.