97 to 318

Extended debt-limit ceiling in the House?

Failed.

WASHINGTON – The House of Representatives on Tuesday defeated a bill to raise the debt limit in a vote staged by Republicans to strengthen their push for deep spending cuts in negotiations with the White House.

By a vote of 318-97, the chamber overwhelmingly rejected President Barack Obama's call to increase the $14.3 trillion debt limit without conditions. Even some Democrats supporting Obama's position voted against it.

"I'm going to advise my members that they not subject themselves to the demagoguery that is sure to follow" if they vote for the measure, chief Democratic vote-counter Steny Hoyer said before the vote.

Polls show the public does not support a further increase in borrowing authority even as the Treasury Department scrambles to avoid a default that could push the country back into recession and rattle markets across the globe.

The world -- if the debt ceiling is not raised astronomically, say the Demorats -- will suddenly stop rotating on its axis and all Life as we know it will be killed.

BZ