President Obama has had his last debt-ceiling showdown with the Republican-controlled Congress. Early Friday, the Senate approved a two-year debt and budget package negotiated by the White House and leaders of Congress, sending it to Obama's desk for his signature. The vote in the Senate, 64 to 35, followed a similarly lopsided approval in the House on Wednesday. The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 raises the debt limit — set to be hit on Nov. 3 — through 2017 and sets spending levels through the end of fiscal 2017. Included in those limits is an $80 billion easing of the 2011 budget caps on the military and social spending.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
Taliban's quest for tourists to see the wonders of AfghanistanUnder The Radar Troubled country wants to become a 'tourism powerhouse' – but how safe is it?
-
Magazine solutions - May 17, 2024Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - May 17, 2024
-
Magazine printables - May 17, 2024Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - May 17, 2024
-
Ukraine cheers House approval of military aidSpeed Read Following a lengthy struggle, the House has approved $95 billion in aid for Ukraine and Israel
-
Poland, Germany nab alleged anti-Ukraine spiesSpeed Read A man was arrested over a supposed Russian plot to kill Ukrainian President Zelenskyy
-
Israel hits Iran with retaliatory airstrikeSpeed Read The attack comes after Iran's drone and missile barrage last weekend
-
Peter Murrell: Sturgeon's husband charged over SNP 'embezzlement' claimsSpeed Read SNP expresses 'shock' as former chief executive rearrested in long-running investigation into claims of mishandled campaign funds
-
Mark Menzies: Tories investigate MP after 'bad people' cash claimsSpeed Read Fylde MP will sit as an independent while party looks into allegations he misused campaign funds on medical expenses and blackmail pay-out
-
Why Johnson won't just pass Ukraine aidSpeed Read The House Speaker could have sent $60 billion in military aid to Ukraine — but it would have split his caucus
-
Sudan on brink of collapse after a year of warSpeed Read 18 million people face famine as the country continues its bloody downward spiral
-
Trump's first criminal trial starts with jury picksSpeed Read The former president faces charges related to hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels
