WASHINGTON—The Senate overcame the biggest hurdle to raising the debt ceiling Thursday, with more than a dozen Republicans joining Democrats to help clear legislation crafted to avert a government default.
The Senate advanced the bill 64-36 in the critical procedural vote early in the afternoon, drawing the support of 14 Republicans to top the required 60-vote threshold. Hours later, the Senate voted 59-35 on final passage, which required just a simple majority.
