Boehner Buckles: House Approves Debt Limit Increase 221 To 201

The Republican-controlled House has approved a debt limit increase, in a 221 to 201 vote, to allow Treasury to borrow freely through March 15, 2015. House Speaker John Boehner, in an abrupt shift, announced Tuesday that the House would vote on an increase in the nation’s borrowing cap without any strings attached.

Boehner caving on a “clean” debt limit increase, which was supported by just 28 Republicans, was tantamount to a complete capitulation by so-called fiscally conservative Republicans to President Obama and congressional Democrats, who argued that the Republicans should not attempt to use the bill as leverage to extract concessions from the administration.

But there is nothing “clean” about the debt limit increase, another credit extension to pay for the pet projects of big government lawmakers who are seemingly unconcerned about the disastrous trajectory the U.S. fiscal house is heading in.

Conservative groups quickly condemned the decision, voicing concern that Congress would let the cap continue to rise above its current $17.3 trillion level without anything in return.

“A clean debt ceiling is a complete capitulation on the Speaker’s part and demonstrates that he has lost the ability to lead the House of Representatives, let alone his own party,” Jenny Beth Martin, co-founder of Tea Party Patriots, said in a statement.

Yet, Speaker Boehner somehow believes he can take that road without bearing responsibility.

“We’ll let the Democrats put the votes up. We’ll put a minimum number of (GOP) votes up to get it passed,” Boehner said. “We’ll let his party give him the debt ceiling increase that he wants.”

If Republicans aren’t buying that explanation, there is little reason for conservatives or anyone to believe that the American people will as a whole, either.

The House also voted Tuesday to restore full cost of living increases to pension benefits for younger military retirees, whom they abandoned during the Ryan-Murray budget deal. The final vote was 326-90.