ThinkProgress Vote Count Finds 267* House Votes For A Clean Debt Ceiling Hike

[ej510]

Source: Think Progress



The congressional debate over various deficit-cutting plans appears to have reached a stalemate, with the plans from both Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) currently lacking the votes they need to pass the House of Representatives.

However, a special vote count conducted by ThinkProgress found that there are more than enough votes for a third option — a clean debt ceiling hike. ThinkProgress has concluded that there are 267 votes in the House for a clean hike, with almost all Democrats in support and a large number of Republicans. Here are the Republicans we have found who support a clean debt hike:

>snip

The list includes 98 House Republicans. In addition to these Republicans, there is support for a clean hike from 169 Democrats. This means that a clean debt ceiling bill could net 267 votes — 51 votes more than House leadership needs to raise the debt ceiling and avoid catastrophe.*

*Just kidding — kind of. ThinkProgress tabulated this vote count by looking at debt ceiling votes in 2004, where 98 currently serving House Republicans voted for a clean debt ceiling hike, and 2009, where 169 currently serving House Democrats voted for a clean debt ceiling hike. Additionally, 31 Senate Republicans voted for such a hike in 2004. All of these Members of Congress can vote for a clean hike again and avert disaster — saving discussions about deficit reduction (and more importantly, jobs) for appropriations debates that take place once America’s financial future is safe. They’ve done it before, and they can possibly do it again.

Read more: http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2011/07/29/282539/213-votes-debt-hike/

[dgibby]

1. Great!

Best news I've heard in months. Wonder if Obama will agree.

[yodermon]

2. everyone be sure to read the asterisk* n/t

[no_hypocrisy]

3. I understand the numbers are theoretical, but I also think that a clean bill

is the only chance for a bipartison solution. I can't see republicans who have retained their sanity voting against a clean bill and losing in November 2012. Plus, what about raising the debt limit and immediately start working on the budget and cuts? You know, the democratic process of offering evidence, debating, voting, etc.?

There IS a draft of a clean bill, floating around somewhere. But it will come down to one man, John Boehner, not Obama. Boehner has the option of putting a clean bill up for a vote, to prove he's tried EVERYTHING to prevent default. This would be the true test of his ability to lead.

[Control-Z]

4. That wasn't very nice.

Geez.

[grahamhgreen]

5. Arrgh.

[MilesColtrane]

6. I see the point being made, but I have to unrecommend this.

House Republicans are experiencing a form of mass insanity.

"They’ve done it before, and they can possibly do it again." is simply whistling in the dark.

[Eyerish]

7. Not funny...

[Coyote_Bandit]

8. Past behavior is not always a good predictor of future behavior

unrec