WASHINGTON — The Republican-led House yesterday passed a bill that would avoid a looming federal credit crunch, allowing the government to keep borrowing money to pay its bills until mid-May.
The measure passed in a bipartisan 285-144 vote, although more than half of the House Democratic caucus and most of their leaders opposed it as a delaying tactic.
The Senate is expected to quickly pass the legislation. The White House said President Obama will sign it.
But the measure only postpones the budget battle between Obama and the GOP, with budget deadlines in March, April and May.
The bill also tweaked Senate Democrats by requiring lawmakers to debate a budget bill this year or face having their pay withheld.
“This is the first step in an effort to bring real fiscal responsibility to Washington,” said House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio).