But it erupted more publicly last week after McConnell caved and did something he should have done much earlier, permitting a vote on increasing the legal limit on the federal debt. Schumer, who took the chamber's leadership from McConnell after Republican infighting cost the GOP two Georgia Senate seats, was hardly the gracious victor in what was, inevitably, but one round in a continuing battle likely to last throughout the year — and beyond. After 11 Republicans, including leadership allies, retiring senators and GOP moderates, voted to allow a two-month debt ceiling increase to pass with only Democratic votes, Schumer took the floor and, accurately but unnecessarily, denounced McConnell's maneuvers. "Republicans played a dangerous and risky partisan game," the Democratic leader said, adding, "Republicans must recognize in the future that they should approach fixing the debt limit in a bipartisan way." That produced grumbling from some Republicans who facilitated the action and from West Virginia's maverick Democratic senator, Joe Manchin, whom Schumer needs to pass President Joe Biden's social spending program. "I don't think it was appropriate at this time," Manchin told CNN's Manu Raju, accusing "both sides" of "playing politics." On Friday, McConnell responded with an unusually strong-worded letter to Biden. He sought to blame the impasse on Democrats and, even more unnecessarily, added, "Whether through weakness or an intentional effort to bully his own members, Senator Schumer marched the nation to the doorstep of disaster. "This tantrum encapsulated and escalated a pattern of angry incompetence from Senator Schumer," he added. "It has poisoned the well even further." McConnell reiterated Republicans would not again help raise the debt ceiling, vowing, "I will not be a party to any future effort to mitigate the consequences of Democratic mismanagement." The need for periodic votes raising the debt limit has been troublesome for whichever party is running the government at the time. Enacted a century ago, it was intended to help Congress control federal spending, but it has been spectacularly unsuccessful. The reason: It basically ratifies prior spending and tax actions, rather than brake future ones. Failure to act would force the U.S. government into default, unable to pay bills or collect debts, threatening economic disaster. As a result, Congress always eventually acts, but often after each party tries to extract political advantage. In this case, McConnell wants to force endangered Democratic incumbents to vote on a package containing both the debt ceiling hike and Biden's spending measures.