Republicans are headed for another debt ceiling fight as incoming Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker John Boehner hope to avoid another government shutdown.
The GOP wants a program that would make raising the debt limit conditional upon spending cuts, with the hope that such a proposal would garner Republican support instead of relying on Democrats to increase the debt limit, which will be necessary considering the fact that the Democrats and White House vow not to negotiate the debt limit,
Politico is reporting.
However, Republicans haven't increased the debt ceiling without Democrat support in almost 10 years. In 2006, Republicans raised the debt ceiling with 52 votes, which was opposed by all Senate Democrats.
Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn of Texas told Politico that he supports debt ceiling negotiations.
"I think it's irresponsible to keep issuing blank checks," Cornyn said. "I'm not worried about it. But it's going to be one of many challenges."
When Republicans last raised the debt limit without Democrat support, they did so under a Republican president.
With 60 votes needed in the Senate and 218 in the House, Republicans will need the support of their entire caucus as well as some Democrats in order to allow the Obama administration to continue to increase the debt.
"I think there are enough Democrats that care about $18 trillion in debt and no end in sight that we can plan a bipartisan group to send something to the president that can help us make some real progress on the debt," Cornyn said.
"We ought to have a responsible way to deal with some of the debt," he added.
The debt limit is scheduled to be reached by March 15, but tax season along with other measures by the Treasury Department are expected get the government through a few more months.
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