(Jim Young/REUTERS)
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Desperate to get out of the political box they helped to create, Senate Republicans are actively pursuing a new plan under which the debt ceiling would grow in three increments over the remainder of this Congress unless lawmakers approve a veto-proof resolution of disapproval.
In effect lawmakers would be surrendering the very power of approval that the GOP has used to force the debt crisis now. But by taking the disapproval route, Republicans can shift the onus more onto the White House and Democrats since a two-thirds majority will be needed to stop any increase that President Barack Obama requests.
Details are very fuzzy, but here's how it would apparently work. The Republicans would agree to make a series of three debt ceiling votes this year, but the default on each of those votes would be that the debt ceiling would get raised unless the House and Senate denied the move by a 2/3rds vote. And that isn't likely to happen, which means they all go through.
This is structured such that McConnell and the other Republicans can vote against debt ceilings from now until the next elections, but not actually have those votes matter. Because, presumably, there would always be enough Democrats voting for debt ceiling increases to block the Republicans from actually coming up with a 2/3rds majority. The Republicans want this to save face, and because they think they'll be able to use it as a club against Democrats. Hey, consequence-free votes against raising the debt ceiling! Look at us, we're responsible and stuff!
The problem for Republicans in these negotiations is that they really never have given a damn about the deficit or the debt ceiling. There have been proposed cuts and compromises galore, but what the Republicans really want—that is, the only thing their own members will tolerate, which is a gigantic problem for GOP leadership—is deep cuts to government and absolutely no revenue increases whatsoever. There haven't been any tax increases or loophole-closings that they've been willing to even discuss, and have even walked out of talks rather than listen to it.
Now, though, they may be willing here to abandon all spending cuts, rather than risk having to vote for closing any corporate tax loopholes, any increases taxes on the wealthy, etc. Just bail on the whole thing, grant the debt ceiling increase largely unencumbered, rather than be forced to make those votes. (As another face-saving measure, there's some language in this about Obama having to "propose" cuts later. I assume that's so that we can all keep pretending this is about the deficit: I note that there's nothing in there saying Congress actually has to act on those cuts.)
The biggest question: it's entirely unclear whether the other GOP leaders will go along with this, as it is a massive concession of defeat in exchange for a few token votes later. We'll soon know. What we do know is that the conservative rank-and-file is already calling this proposal a full sell-out:
The GOP has backed itself into such a corner that it's not even clear what they
can agree on, at this point.
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