Today, President Obama and members of Congress are getting back to business. The House will hold a vote on suspending the federal government’s debt limit until May 19, the latest part of the ongoing debt talk saga that has consumed Washington for the last two years.
Yesterday, Speaker Boehner held his first news conference in more than a month where he said that Republicans are bringing a debt bill to the floor as part of an effort to encourage the Senate to pass a budget. The White House has released a statement pledging not to oppose the three month bill, but went on to say it, “introduces unnecessary complications, needlessly perpetuating uncertainty in the Nation’s fiscal system.” Around 12:30pm today the House is expected to vote, and pass, the bill. And once again Washington kicks the can down the road and won’t have to address the debt ceiling until May. Republicans however say this will clear their plate and allow them to focus on two major issues – the budget and $1.2 trillion sequester.
Be sure to tune in at 3:20 p.m. when NBC’s Luke Russert joins the conversation to discuss the latest with the debt ceiling.
Abby Borovitz