House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-Los Angeles, said Republicans could bring their debt-ceiling bill to a vote later Wednesday. File photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | license photo
April 26 (UPI) — House Republicans on Wednesday approved a rule allowing debate on their plan to raise the debt ceiling and cut spending, as they rushed to pass their legislation ahead of a potential credit default this summer.
The House voted 219-210 to approve the rule governing debate on the bill after making several changes to appease Republicans. Republican leaders have said they could pass the bill later on Wednesday.
“We are working to get this done as soon as possible,” said House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-Los Angeles. according the hill. “Our members are very focused on doing this.”
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy had initially said no changes would be made to the legislation, but ended up agreeing to appease holdouts.
The changes to the legislation would rescind a large part of the Inflation Reduction Act, reduce social safety net programs like SNAP, and rescind tax credits for renewable energy.
South Carolina Republican Nany Mace, who had been a leading opponent, said she would support the bill.
Democrats have repeatedly pushed for an unconditional increase in the debt limit and criticized Republicans for their lack of transparency.
According Politico, Massachusetts Rep. Jim McGovern accused Republicans of hastily cobbled together an “embarrassing amendment that materialized at his midnight séance.”
Congress is expected to have until sometime this summer to raise the debt ceiling or risk a national default.
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