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That the national debt limit needs to be raised because we are borrowing so much money is no great secret, but Republicans in Congress want to raise that limit with as little public notice as possible.
That would rule out a freestanding vote because that would highlight the record deficits the Republicans have run up over the last three years.

...the Bush administration has had to twice ask that the borrowing cap be lifted, for a total of $1.4 trillion.

Now it needs a third of about $690 billion -- and soon. That would take the gross national debt to more than $8 trillion, an impressive number.

<ul> ~ http://www.cincypost.com/2004/06/25/edita062504.html</ul>