House Democrats take steps to force vote on clean debt ceiling increase

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: CBS News

House Democrats have taken their first procedural steps to try to force a House vote on a clean debt ceiling increase, multiple Democratic leadership aides tell CBS News, a long-shot effort that is unlikely to come to fruition but allows Democrats to argue that they are taking action to address the looming crisis.

Democratic Rep. Jim McGovern of Massachusetts, the top Democrat on the House Rules Committee, introduced a special rule Tuesday that would allow Democrats to attach a clean debt ceiling increase to an unrelated bill introduced by Rep. Mark DeSaulnier, of California, in January. The bill was introduced when Republicans took control of the House and referred to several committees for consideration with the intention of using it as a vehicle for Democrats to try to force a floor vote on anything they believed was necessary.

One Democratic leadership aide described it as a "break the glass in case of emergency" option. The U.S. government could be as little as a month away from being unable to pay its bills if Congress does not act to raise or suspend the debt limit.

By introducing the rule Tuesday, Democrats will be able to designate it as what's known as a discharge petition and begin collecting signatures as early as May 16. A discharge petition is a mechanism that forces a floor vote on any measure that gets 218 signatures, the majority of the House. Signatures must be added in person while the House is in session.

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-debt-ceiling-house-democrats-force-vote-clean/

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They are going through the steps for a "discharge petition" to move legislation out of a Committee (without a Committee vote) and send it right to the floor and it starts with doing a Rule for handling it.

[Fiendish Thingy]

1. My understanding is a discharge petition can take months

It is far too late for that move, unless attaching it to the January bill speeds things up.

[BumRushDaShow]

2. They want to attach it that existing January bill that is already in other Committees

[lollygag]

3. "allows Democrats to argue that they are taking action to address the looming crisis"

A crisis created by MAGAs.

[Alexander Of Assyria]

7. Crisis created by a law that has no purpose, in conflict with the constitution and an annual

insult to financial rationality.

In short, it’s just Stupid.

[ShazzieB]

14. Therefore...?

Should the Democrats not try to fight the Repugs trying to blow things up or not?

[LetMyPeopleVote]

4. This makes me smile

Link to tweet

BREAKING: House Democrats STUN Republicans by unveiling a secret plan that they have been putting together since January to break through the GOP's debt ceiling obstructionism.

Republicans have been threatening a government default that would crash the world economy unless President Biden brutally slashes funding and guts veterans healthcare benefits.

Rather than cave to these draconian demands, Democrats' newly unveiled plan is designed to force a vote on the debt limit hike despite GOP objections through something called a "discharge petition," a special move that would force floor legislation backed by a majority of House members.

The petition would require at least five Republicans signing on, a much lower threshold than the Democrats currently face to raise the ceiling in the GOP-controlled House.

Democrats quietly introduced the legislative seed of this maneuver back in January inside an obscure bill called “The Breaking the Gridlock Act.” They have now introduced a "special rule" that enables the bill to be brought to the floor should the discharge petition succeed.

While Republicans are playing chicken with the global economy, Democrats are going to bat for the American people once again.

[bringthePaine]

5. nice warning shot across the bow...

[Alexander Of Assyria]

8. The shot is the one America keeps shooting itself in the foot with...and doesn't seem to mind.

Can’t do anything about it, like gun control…impossible to change a law with another law…is that right?

[ShazzieB]

12. Do you think the House Democrats should not even bother with this?

Just checking, as it's hard to tell from your comments.

It seems to me that no matter what caused this or why, the Demicrats are right to fight as hard as they can, using the tools currently available to them. But maybe that's just me.

[riversedge]

6. ..However, all 213 Democrats would need to sign the petition, along with five Republicans to get the

Will there be 5 Repubs?? Hate to say this but my guess is no.


.....However, all 213 Democrats would need to sign the petition, along with five Republicans to get the necessary 218 signatures. As recently as Friday, Democratic aides were downplaying the possibility that they would use a discharge petition after seeing nearly all Republicans coalesce around the GOP plan to cut spending in exchange for a debt ceiling increase – a sign that it would be very difficult to get the five GOP votes at the moment.

[BumRushDaShow]

9. The OP article suggests it would probably not succeed HOWEVER

You do have a group that calls themselves the "Problem Solvers Caucus" that is basically a bipartisan "centrist" group that comes together for certain legislation. They were involved in some of the crafting of what passed for the Inflation Reduction Act.

They apparently have something put together for the debt ceiling -

Link to tweet

Problem Solvers Caucus
@ProbSolveCaucus
·
Follow
Thank you to @RepEdCase, @RepDonBacon, @RepScottPeters, and @CongressmanKean for your leadership and dedicated efforts in creating this bipartisan framework.
problemsolverscaucus.house.gov
Problem Solvers Caucus Endorses Bipartisan Debt Ceiling Framework
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Problem Solvers Caucus has announced its endorsement of a bipartisan debt ceiling framework comprised of steps to avoid defaulting on the national debt and advancing a...
4:45 PM · Apr 21, 2023

Link to their press release - https://problemsolverscaucus.house.gov/media/press-releases/problem-solvers-caucus-endorses-bipartisan-debt-ceiling-framework

Their draft framework - https://problemsolverscaucus.house.gov/sites/problemsolverscaucus.house.gov/files/documents/PSC%20Debt%20Ceiling%20Framework.pdf



This is where 5 Republicans could come from.

[Rhiannon12866]

10. Thanks for keeping up with this, it's the most important news for this country.

And it's all about McCarthy and his fellow Republicans attempting to sabotage Biden's presidency at the expense of fellow Americans and the entire country.

[BumRushDaShow]

11. At least this go-around

they have proof that this kind of gamesmanship WASN'T done under 45 where the debt ceiling was raised, without the hostage-taking, 3 times.

In fact, I just found this - Karine Jean-Pierre called them out on it today!!

[Rhiannon12866]

13. Thanks! Kudos to Karine! Though I'd be willing to bet that her remarks won't be shown on Fox "News!"

Since they only tell "their" viewers what they want to hear...

[BumRushDaShow]

15. LOL

So true!!!

[ShazzieB]

16. Good job!

[BumRushDaShow]

17. And she didn't have to shout or yell

It was a simple statement of FACT!

[LetMyPeopleVote]

18. A bill with the "secret capacity to save the country from default."

Link to tweet