Schumer Says Reconciliation Can’t Be Used for Debt Limit

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said that Congress can’t use the budget reconciliation process to raise the debt limit, calling it “uncharted waters,” NBC News reports.

Said Schumer: “This body cannot and will not go through a drawn-out and unpredictable process sought by the minority leader.”

He added: “To do this through reconciliation requires ping-ponging separate bills back from the Senate and the House… Individual senators could move to delay and delay and delay. It is very risky and could well lead us to default.”

It’s an odd statement since Schumer may be forced to use reconciliation — unless he’s got some secret plan to eliminate the filibuster.