Now that the government will be open for a while, the Senate still has major issues to deal with and very little time to do it. However, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has said in a letter to other Senators that the Senate still plans to vote on President Biden’s economic agenda, which includes the provision to lower drug prices, as well as legislation to address voting rights, the debt limit, and an annual defense authorization bill by Christmas.
We wish the Majority Leader well but to say he is being optimistic is an understatement. Congress must address the debt ceiling or the U.S. government will default on paying its bills, which could result in serious economic consequences.
In addition, the debt ceiling is the one issue that really does have a deadline, even if the exact date on which the government would default is not known. While far from desirable, the other issues could go into next year for action.
