Senate votes down debt commission

Idea for cutting the national debt had received support from President Obama.

The Senate rejected a proposed commission to reduce the federal debt today.

In a 53-46 vote, the Senate rejected an amendment to the bill to raise the nation's debt ceiling (H.J.Res. 45 ) which would have created a bipartisan commissionto recommend a debt-reduction package that would be put to an up-or-down vote.

The proposal came from Democratic Sen. Kent Conrad (N.D.) and Republican Sen. Judd Gregg (N.H.). It received backingfrom President Obama in recent days.

Those voting against it included 23 Republicans, 22 Democrats and Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders (Vt.). Liberals argued it would lead to cuts in Social Security and Medicare, while conservatives said it would lead to tax increases.

On a related note, the Senate adopted 97-0 a measure from Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) that would prohibit any cuts to Social Security made by similar debt-cutting commissions or task forces.

-- Ryan Teague Beckwith, Congress.org

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