Vote in the House of Representatives to suspend the debt ceiling

Facing a rapidly shrinking calendar, House Democrats passed a standalone bill Wednesday that would suspend the federal debt limit through Dec. 16, 2022.

The bill passed by a vote of 219-212, but faces an unavoidable problem: Republicans have vowed not to support efforts to address the debt ceiling, making it virtually impossible to pass a bill without resorting to the filibuster-proof reconciliation process .

Earlier this week, Senate Republicans blocked two attempts to vote on a separate bill that would suspend the debt limit, heightening concerns that Congress could plunge the economy into a potentially catastrophic crisis as early as mid-October.

“We’re just asking Republicans to get out of the way,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) pleaded on the Senate floor.

Internal resistance: Before the vote, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) faced opposition from some members of her caucus who threatened to block the new bill because they feared their support would cause them political harm. To win their support, Pelosi agreed to a vote on a bill that would create something of a financial report card for the United States

In a letter to Democratic lawmakers before the vote, Pelosi said: “The House plans to fulfill its responsibility to protect the American economy and American families from the catastrophe of a default by passing legislation to suspend the debt limit.”

Pelosi also made it clear who she blames for the last-minute legislative wrangling: “We cannot and will not allow Republican extremism and a complete lack of concern for families to bankrupt our economy,” she wrote.

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