Schumer plans vote on debt limit next week

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer ratcheted up pressure on Republicans in their feud over raising the national debt limit, announcing Thursday he will seek a vote “as early as next week” on House-passed legislation suspending the legal ceiling. The timetable brings the vote nearer the October 18 deadline to avoid the first-ever default on US sovereign debt and tightens the time available to pursue a convoluted alternative strategy to overcome a Republican blockade on addressing the debt limit. Senate Republicans have twice blocked debt ceiling measures from advancing in the 50-50 chamber, where 60 votes are needed to proceed on most legislation.