Mar 9, 2017

Treasury Dept asks Congress to raise the debt ceiling

Dan Primack, author of Pro Rata

Associated Press

U.S. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin today sent a letter to House leaders, asking that they vote to raise the federal debt ceiling:

"Beginning in Thursday, March 16, 2017, the outstanding debt of the United States will be at the statutory limit. At that time, Treasury anticipates that it will need to start taking certain extraordinary measures in order to temporarily prevent the United States from defaulting on its obligations."

This would suggest that President Trump also supports an increase to the debt ceiling, although Sean Spicer punted on the questions when asked during today's White House press briefing.

History: Mick Mulvaney, Trump's director of the Office of Management and Budget, voted against raising the debt ceiling while serving as a U.S. congressman from South Carolina. Trump also has expressed a willingness, in the past, to let the U.S. effectively default on its debt:

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Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

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President Trump said Judge Amy Coney Barrett's Senate confirmation to the Supreme Court and her subsequent taking of the constitutional oath Monday was a "momentous day," as she she vowed to serve "without any fear or favour."

Of note: As Republicans applauded the action, Democratic leaders warned of consequences to the rush to replace the late liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg with a conservative so close to the election, as progressives led calls to expand the court.

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Hurricane Zeta makes landfall in Mexico ahead of expected arrival in U.S.

Hurricane Zeta's forecast path. Photo: National Hurricane Center

Hurricane Zeta made landfall on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula as a Category 1 storm late Monday packing maximum sustained winds of 80 mph, per the National Hurricane Center.

The state of play: Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) declared a state of emergency Monday as Zeta strengthened into a hurricane earlier Monday.

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