Reid calls on Senate Republicans to reject ‘Tea Party overlords’

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Wednesday said he hoped enough Republicans would reject their “Tea Party overlords” to advance a bill to raise the debt ceiling.

The Nevada Democrat announced Wednesday the Senate would vote to end debate on the bill around 1:45 p.m. 

If cloture is invoked, the Senate will then move immediately to final passage of a bill that the House passed Tuesday to raise the debt ceiling until March 2015, with no strings attached.

{mosads}The bill raises the debt ceiling until March 15, 2015, which would allow the government to continue borrowing above the current $17.2 trillion cap. After the suspension ends, the new debt ceiling would equal the amount of debt the government has racked up by then.

Many Republicans were disappointed Congress didn’t force the administration to agree to spending reductions before raising the debt ceiling, which will prevent a government default. That is why Senate Republicans are forcing a cloture vote, meaning Democrats will need 60-vote to advance the measure.

Some Republicans are expected to help Democrats get it past the 60-vote threshold.

Reid moved a vote on repealing cuts to military pensions until after the Senate deals with the debt ceiling. That vote is still expected later Wednesday.