House Democrats move forward with petition to force vote on debt limit

House Democrats pushed through a procedural move on Wednesday that could force a vote to raise the debt limit if negotiations between President Biden and Republicans fail, despite signs of progress in bipartisan talks to push through a long-running Plan B to avoid bankruptcy.

New York Representative Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic leader, wrote to his colleagues urging them to quickly sign a discharge petition, which could automatically force a House vote on legislation if a majority of 218 members sign it.

While Mr. Jeffries noted that following the White House meeting hosted by Mr Biden, there were signs that “a real path exists to find an acceptable, bipartisan resolution that prevents a default,” he said the Democrats must take all possible steps to avoid a crisis.

The Treasury Department has predicted that it could exceed its legal authority to borrow to pay government debt as early as June 1, leading to a catastrophic bankruptcy.

“Given the approaching June 1 deadline and the urgency of the moment, it is important that all legislative options are pursued in the event that no agreement is reached,” Mr Jeffries wrote. He said Representative Brendan Boyle of Pennsylvania, the senior Democrat on the budget committee, would file a request for discharge “to provide a vehicle that may be needed to protect the full faith and honor of the United States.”

“It is imperative that Members make every effort to sign the discharge petition today,” Mr Jeffries wrote. If all of their 213 members signed up, the Democrats would need at least five Republicans to join them, and are unlikely to win those converts unless the situation gets dire.

The strategy faces major challenges given the complexity of the maneuver and the partisan divisions in the debt talks. But even if it fails, Democrats say the discharge petition will continue to put pressure on Republican leaders to make a deal or face a possible uprising among their more politically vulnerable members, who could pay a price with the voters if they are seen as helping to get the country into trouble. standard. Democrats also see the petition as a way to show that their party is doing everything it can to avoid an economic debacle.

Representative Tom Cole, an Oklahoma Republican and a leading legislative tactician as chairman of the Rules Committee, said Tuesday he doubted Republicans would cross over and sign on.

“I don’t think we’re in trouble,” said Mr. Cole in an interview. “I don’t think anyone wants to be one of about six to hand the win to Biden.”

The democratic maneuver is considered a last resort, and such efforts have rarely worked in the past given the obstacles that stood in the way. Even if the petition’s backers were to get the required signatures, house rules state that the legislation can only be voted on on specific days.

Aware of the limitations, Democrats quietly took steps earlier this year to ensure they had enough time to implement their plan, introducing an unclear bill that could be used as a tool for an eventual increase in the debt limit so that it could be referred to committees in time to run the 30-day clock required by house rules before a measure can be discharged. This month, they submitted a special contingency proposal that cleared the way to collect signatures this week.

Democrats see Republicans in swing districts carried by Mr Biden as those most likely to be affected in the event of a default, as they are at the greatest political risk.

But Mr. Cole said House Republicans from those districts were the most trusted supporters of Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who would oppose a resignation request because it would essentially take control of the floor out of his hands.

“I don’t think they’re likely to burst,” he said.

In his letter, Mr. Jeffries noted that former President Donald J. Trump had encouraged Republicans to default the nation if the Republicans could not force the Democrats to make significant cuts, a stance that could encourage Republicans to stand firm. keep in the discussions.

“In the coming weeks, at the reckless urging of former President Trump,” he wrote, “we face the possibility that right-wing extremists will deliberately plunge our country into default crisis.”