House Republicans announced Tuesday that they will hold a vote next week on a bill to raise the debt ceiling without other measures to bring down the overall debt, a bill that is certain to fail, as GOP leaders say they don't think any of their members will support it.
The White House has called repeatedly for Congress to raise the debt ceiling, even after President Barack Obama said the debt limit increase would likely be paired with spending cuts. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner warned Congress that the government would begin to default on its debts by Aug. 2 if Congress does not authorize it to take on additional debt.
One Democrat who agrees with Republicans that spending cuts must be linked to raising the debt ceiling is Tampa area Congresswoman Kathy Castor
This article appears in May 19-25, 2011.