Speaker Fiasco Might Make It Easier to Hike Debt Ceiling

Benjy Sarlin thinks “the same divisions roiling the House will also prevent it from mounting a serious debt ceiling fight that extracts major concessions.”

“The party pushing for significant policy changes in shutdown fights or similar standoffs typically starts at a huge political disadvantage already. A divided caucus that limped through the midterms without a clear mandate would start in even worse shape. Maintaining 218 votes on a clear, consistent, and achievable position would be critical to success — and very unlikely, especially after this week’s fiasco.”

“Moderates are already openly contemptuous of the conservatives driving the anti-McCarthy rebellion. It seems harder to imagine them sitting quietly while the same hated colleagues lead a no-compromises charge for, say, a rapidly balanced budget filled with unpopular cuts while the stock market begins to tank. This is especially true since the core of the razor-thin majority — some 18 members — are in vulnerable seats won by Biden.”

“If a speaker can’t credibly promise to deliver 218 votes on a deal without help from the other side, their leverage withers. Faced with similar internal splits, former speakers like John Boehner and Paul Ryan were forced to turn to Democrats to get must-pass bills across the finish line.”