House Republicans are eyeing an alternative government funding stopgap that excludes raising the debt ceiling, and are instead working on a pledge to raise the borrowing limit twice next year to appease President-elect Trump. People's sources told The Hill.
The new continuing resolution is still under consideration and subject to change, but includes some language from the spending plan released by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) earlier this week, including what it would provide to lawmakers. It is the same as excluding the policy clause. Officials say there will also be a pay increase.
Instead of enclosing a debt ceiling increase on an ad hoc basis (which would be difficult to pass given Democratic opposition), House Republicans would raise the borrowing limit twice next year through reconciliation, once at the beginning of the calendar and once again. is committed to increasing the amount (later in the calendar). .
“They're looking for a commitment from Republicans that we can move through reconciliation and support raising the debt ceiling so that President Trump can do his job and do what he needs to do,” one of the people said. Ta.
Sources said they expected the emergency measures to last until March 14, the same date as Prime Minister Boris Johnson's original policy. But both sources cautioned that talks were still ongoing.
Some of President Trump's political staff are also participating in the meeting, sources said. Trump's incoming legislative affairs director, James Blade, has been in and out of Johnson's office.
Johnson's office declined to comment.
President Trump threw a curveball into government funding talks on Tuesday, calling for a debt ceiling increase as part of a stopgap measure and calling it a “nasty TRAP” to avoid giving Democrats leverage once he takes office. But addressing the debt ceiling increase through reconciliation could avoid political hurdles by avoiding the Senate filibuster and Democratic approval requirements.
The Plan B news comes as ideologically diverse House Republicans flock to Mr. Johnson's office amid government funding negotiations as the midnight Friday deadline for a government shutdown ticks down. .
