Joe Manchin suggests there is way to avoid debt default

WASHINGTON - Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia suggested on Monday that there was a way forward to vote on the debt ceiling and avoid what would be the nation's first default.

Manchin told reporters that the Republicans were able to pass legislation with a simple majority in the Senate instead of the 60 votes needed to reach a resolution on the debt ceiling.

I think it is our responsibility to make sure that we take care of the debt ceiling. Democrats are now in control, so we want to make sure we do it and do it right, he said. That pathway has been given. I don't know what's going to be done, but that pathway has been given. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell have been talking about resolving the debt ceiling. Both offices were reached out for comment, according to NBC News.

Manchin said later on Monday when asked about a potential deal, "No details, we're negotiating." Schumer told reporters: Hopefully we can come to an agreement to get this done. The federal debt limit is about to be raised and the federal debt limit is going to be lifted. The Treasury Department said that the government might not be able to meet its financial obligations after December 15.

In remarks prepared for delivery on Tuesday, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said that America must pay its bills on time and in full, and that she will testify before the Senate Banking Committee. If we do not, we will eviscerate our current recovery. Congress has a packed agenda between now and the end of the year, from funding the government to passing a massive defense policy bill to averting a potential debt default.

The debt limit was raised last month on a short-term basis after a bitter partisan standoff. Democrats had insisted on broad GOP support, citing Democratic backing during previous debt ceiling votes under Republican administrations, but only a handful of Senate Republicans allowed the vote to go forward.

It's not yet clear whether Democrats will lift the debt ceiling on their own, through a vote independent from President Joe Biden's $1.7 trillion Build Back Better bill, or if they'll get some GOP support.