On the recordNovember 17, 2011
I yield myself 1\1/4\ minutes, the time allotted us for tonight. I think the instructive discussion that we've had here tonight illustrates an irreconcilable problem with the requirement that a supermajority is necessary under H.J. Res. 2 to raise the debt limit. It's frequently difficult enough to raise the debt limit with a simple majority, so I'm sure that everyone in this Chamber will realize, by raising the requirement by a considerable figure, it is going to make it nearly impossible to raise the debt limit. We've just gone through a summer of problems of raising the debt limit by a simple majority. Now, tonight, we are told that we're going to make this a constitutional proposition, which will make it even more difficult. Just for the record, for the last time, I yield to the gentleman from Virginia for an explanation: Would you explain to me how raising the debt limit to a supermajority is going to facilitate a more progressive or operative Congress.
