Hoyer to Dems: Vote 'No' on Clean Debt Limit Hike

The Hill reports:

The House Democrats’ top vote-counter is advising rank-and-file members to vote against an unconditional increase in the federal debt limit to avoid political attacks from Republicans.

Rep. Steny Hoyer (Md.), the second-ranking House Democrat, said Tuesday that members should not “subject themselves to a political 30-second ad attack” by voting to raise the debt ceiling when all Republicans are expected to vote no.

“My advice to them would be not to play this political charade,” Hoyer said at his weekly press briefing.

GOP leaders on Tuesday evening are bringing up a “clean” debt-limit bill — without spending strings attached — to show Senate Democrats and the White House that Congress will not authorize more federal borrowing without significant spending cuts.

The move has put Democrats in an awkward position because 114 of them — nearly two-thirds of the caucus — signed a letter in April calling for a clean debt-ceiling vote. Hoyer had indicated he would support an unconditioned increase, but he reversed himself when it became clear the vote would be purely symbolic and gain no GOP support. The White House also initially called for Congress to raise the debt limit and leave the spending fight as a separate issue.

“I don’t think this is calling a bluff,” Hoyer said, “I think this is giving their members cover.”