Senate Dems Expect To Pass Debt Limit Hike Today

The Senate's top Democrat, Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., center, and the top Republican, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., right, sit together during a ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the March o... The Senate's top Democrat, Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., center, and the top Republican, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., right, sit together during a ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, July 31, 2013. With much legislative work uncompleted, Congress begins a five-week summer recess this weekend. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) MORE LESS
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Senate leaders have reached an agreement aimed at wrapping up passage of the House-passed “clean” debt limit increase on Wednesday, according to Democratic and Republican leadership sources.

They have scheduled two back-to-back votes starting at 1:45 p.m. First there’ll be a “cloture” motion to advance the bill, at a 60-vote threshold, and then final passage, requiring 51 votes.

“We are confident that we’ll be well over 60 votes,” said a Democratic leadership aide. “Once cloture is invoked, time will be yielded.”

That means lawmakers like Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), who strongly oppose the debt limit hike, won’t use up debate time to slow down final passage. A Cruz aide told TPM only that he’ll insist on a 60-vote threshold.

After those two votes, the Senate will vote to approve the House-passed bill to reverse recently enacted cuts to military retirement benefits.

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