A joint resolution relating to the disapproval of the President's exercise of authority to increase the debt limit, as submitted under section 3101A of title 31

On Jan 26, 2012, the Senate voted 44–52 on “On the Motion to Proceed” (HJRES 98). Result: Motion to Proceed Rejected. By party: Democrats 2–50, Republicans 42–1, Independents 0–1. It was a party-line vote: most Democrats and most Republicans voted on opposite sides. 3 members voted against their own party.

During the 112th Congress (2011–2012), Barack Obama was president, and Republicans held the House majority and Democrats the Senate majority.

Result: Motion to Proceed Rejected
Yes: 44
No: 52
Did not vote: 6
Date: Jan 26, 2012

By party

Republicans42 yes · 1 no · 5 didn’t vote
Democrats2 yes · 50 no · 1 didn’t vote
Independents0 yes · 1 no

Who broke with their party

Scott P. Brown R-MA voted no
Earl Benjamin (Ben) Nelson D-NE voted yes
Joe Manchin III D-WV voted yes

How each senator voted: Yes

Lisa Murkowski R-AK
Jefferson Beauregard (Jeff) Sessions III R-AL
Richard C. Shelby R-AL
John Boozman R-AR
Jon Llewellyn Kyl R-AZ
Marco Rubio R-FL
Johnny Isakson R-GA
Charles Ernest Grassley R-IA
James Risch R-ID
Michael Dean Crapo R-ID
Daniel Ray Coats R-IN
Richard Green Lugar R-IN
Charles Patrick (Pat) Roberts R-KS
Jerry Moran R-KS
Addison Mitchell (Mitch) Mcconnell R-KY
Rand Paul R-KY
David Vitter R-LA
Olympia Jean Snowe R-ME
Susan Margaret Collins R-ME
Roy Blunt R-MO
Roger F. Wicker R-MS
William Thad Cochran R-MS
Richard M. Burr R-NC
John Hoeven R-ND
Earl Benjamin (Ben) Nelson D-NE
Mike Johanns R-NE
Kelly Ayotte R-NH
Dean Heller R-NV
Robert Jones (Rob) Portman R-OH
James Mountain Inhofe R-OK
Thomas Allen Coburn R-OK
Patrick Joseph Toomey R-PA
James W. Demint R-SC
Lindsey O. Graham R-SC
John Thune R-SD
Lamar Alexander R-TN
John Cornyn R-TX
Kathryn Ann Bailey (Kay) Hutchison R-TX
Mike Lee R-UT
Orrin Grant Hatch R-UT
Ron Johnson R-WI
Joe Manchin III D-WV
John A. Barrasso R-WY
Michael B. Enzi R-WY

How each senator voted: No

Did not vote

Other votes

From Voteview roll call records.

Cite or embed this page

Capitol Receipts, “A joint resolution relating to the…: Senate Vote, Jan 26, 2012,” https://www.capitolreceipts.com/vote/112-S-237/a-joint-resolution-relating-to-the-disapproval-of-the (accessed 2026-10-17).