Los Angeles Times: House Republican Leaders Plan To Raise Debt Ceiling
House Republican leaders abruptly announced they would vote next week to temporarily extend the nation's debt limit, sharply reducing the threat that the government might default on its obligations, but leaving the party still divided as it casts about for the best way to pressure President Obama for more budget cuts. ... Many Republicans, particularly in the House, are still smarting from the tax hikes on the wealthy the president won in the New Year's Day "fiscal cliff" deal. They are primed to fight for cuts to Medicare and other domestic programs, while seeking to divert Obama from his priorities on gun violence and immigration. But House Speaker John A. Boehner of Ohio and other members of the leadership have been warning their restive members that a fight over the debt ceiling risked harm to the economy for which Republicans probably would receive the blame (Mascaro and Memoli, 1/18).
The Washington Post: House Republicans Agree To Vote On Bill To Raise Debt Limit For 3 Months
Though Obama has in the past insisted on increases of sufficient length to calm financial markets and remove any doubt about the ability of the U.S. government to pay its bills, the official said the president would accept a "clean" short-term extension that did not include cuts. "We are encouraged that there are signs that Congressional Republicans may back off their insistence on holding our economy hostage to extract drastic cuts in Medicare, education and programs middle class families depend on," White House press secretary Jay Carney said in a statement. "Congress must pay its bills and pass a clean debt limit increase without further delay" (Helderman and Montgomery, 1/18).