House Speaker John Boehner announced late Thursday that a proposed plan on increasing the nation’s debt ceiling was delayed as party leaders scrambled to find additional votes.
The news came just minutes before Mr. Boehner was set to hold a 5:30 p.m. vote on the proposal, which would cut roughly $915 billion in spending over the next ten years but only raise the debt ceiling through the end of the calendar year. A Republican aide said the House would vote on the bill later on Thursday evening.
The White House quickly responded to the announcement of the delay.
“Clock ticks towards August 2, House is naming post offices, while leaders twist arms for a pointless vote. No wonder people hate Washington,” White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer tweeted.
“We’re not there yet; we don’t have the votes yet. But today is the day,” Mr. Boehner had told members at a morning meeting. “Let’s pass this bill and end the crisis.”
The move to delay the debt vote is the latest mishap facing the House speaker. House Republican freshmen have expressed concerns over the current proposal, calling for steeper spending cuts, which President Obama says he opposes.
Lawmakers are working to meet the August 2 deadline for extending the nation’s borrowing limit, or Obama administration officials warn of a chain reaction of potentially disastrous economic consequences. President Obama has vowed to veto the House measure and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Thursday he will work quickly to kill the measure in the U.S. Senate, where Democrats say they will back a similar proposal put forth by Mr. Reid.
Under the Reid proposal, spending cuts totaling $2 trillion. Mr. Obama has endorsed the proposal.
