Minority Leader John Boehner (R., Ohio) said he’s been talking to the newly elected GOP lawmakers about the need to raise the federal debt ceiling when it comes up early next year

The Wall Street Journal

Boehner Warns GOP on Debt Ceiling
By Naftali Bendavid

Raising the debt ceiling is shaping up as a difficult early vote for the new House GOP majority. Many of the new Republican lawmakers harshly criticized their Democratic opponents during the campaign for voting to raise the limit in the past, citing it as an example of the Democrats’ recklessness with federal tax dollars.

But on Thursday, Minority Leader John Boehner (R., Ohio) said he’s been talking to the newly elected GOP lawmakers about the need to raise the federal debt ceiling when it comes up early next year.

“I’ve made it pretty clear to them that as we get into next year, it’s pretty clear that Congress is going to have to deal with this,” Mr. Boehner, who is slated to become House speaker in January, told reporters.

“We’re going to have to deal with it as adults,” he said, in what apparently are his most explicit comments to date. “Whether we like it or not, the federal government has obligations and we have obligations on our part.”

If an increase in the current debt limit of $14.3 trillion does not pass, it would suggest the country may not meet its obligations and would shake the financial system. It could rock the bond market, rattle the dollar and scare away foreign buyers of U.S. debt.

That puts the Republicans in a tough spot. The GOP will have a House majority of just over 50, and Democrats presumably wouldn’t vote to raise the debt limit, given the tenor of the recent campaign. With about 88 Republican newcomers, GOP leaders might have to persuade many of them to vote for the debt limit. And at least some have made it clear they’re not interested.

Republican leaders hope to circumvent the problem by packaging the debt increase with a plan to cut spending. “We’ll have a lot of time over the coming months to discuss that issue, and how we might move such an issue, but those conversations haven’t started yet,” Mr. Boehner said.

Rep. Pete Sessions (R., Texas), a senior member of the Republican leadership who coordinated the GOP House campaigns, suggested that it would be different when Republicans raise the debt limit than when Democrats did it.

“My sense is when you’re out spending wildly and then you’re willing to raise the debt limit, that’s a problem,” Mr. Sesssions said. “When you are [coming in] with a comprehensive plan, including a budget that clearly lays out priorities and expectations of performance, then say you have to deal with what is there—[that] is a very responsible position.” He added, “We have to have a discussion with our newest members than involves more of a plan…The United States must pay its bills.”

Mr. Sessions suggested Mr. Boehner would talk with President Barack Obama about an agreement that could include a debt limit hike packaged with a rollback of parts of Mr. Obama’s health plan. Mr. Sessions said the issue should not to be politicized, an exhortation likely to be met with skepticism by the Democrats who were targeted by GOP attacks on the issue. “It’s very important to understand that we have a responsibility not to create any issue that divides our country unnecessarily,” he said.

The challenge for Republicans is that many of their highest-profile newcomers are on the record strongly opposing a debt limit increase. Tea party protestors and activists will likely watch the vote as an indication of whether the new lawmakers are sticking by their principles or, as they see it, caving in to Washington ways.

The campaign of Rep.-elect Kristi Noem (R., S.D.) attacked Democratic Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin for voting to raise the debt limit. Rep.-elect Tim Scott (R., S.C.), who like Ms. Noem is joining the House Republican leadership, reiterated Friday that he wouldn’t vote to raise the ceiling.

In February, Republican Reid Ribble blasted Rep. Steve Kagen (D., Wis.), whom he defeated, for voting to increase the debt limit, calling it “unconscionable” and “insane.” He added, “Congressman Kagen is on notice that the people of northeastern Wisconsin are watching and we are outraged.”

Similarly, Rep.-elect Steve Stivers (R., Ohio) blasted Democratic Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy for voting to raise the debt ceiling. “That shows a reckless desire to spend money we don’t have, and borrow money we can’t afford to pay back,” he said.

Rep.-elect Lou Barletta (R., Pa.) cited the raising of the debt limit during the campaign in saying that “Congress and the president are spending our country into servitude.”

[Marianne Hart]

Here we go again.... I wonder how long the "newbies" can hold up to both Republicans and Democrats?

[GIT-R-DONE!]

Figures.

[Christine Ulferts]

Looks like they still haven't learned! Hey Sessions, REPEAL THE WHOLE DAMN DEATHCARE BILL, NOT PARTS OF IT!!!!!!!! Cut out giving our ss money to the damn illegals and anyone else who happens to land on our shores and keep your bloody fat money grubbing hands off of it!!!!! Stop giving welfare and all other govt. freebies to illegals! These are a few big things you can do to reduce the damn debt! Wise up repubs or you'll get voted out just as quickly as you were voted in!!!! Shut down Franny and Freddie and stop lending money to ILLEGALS AND WELFARE BABIES!!!!

[James Moore]

Bunch of stupid SOB's apparently have not learned a thing. Talking of raising the debt ceiling. There is so much crap that they could repeal or refuse to fund. If they don't do it in 2011, we are done for. We just cannot sustain the kind of debt that they have put us in. It is impossible to spend your way out of debt. I see people who have tried to do that, every week in the "Bancruptcies" in the local paper.

[Ima Iggymom]

As I have been saying, nothing will change with Boehner and Cantor except the speed up of Globalizing the US under the UN and NATO...I begged people to contact their Reps to NOT vote Boehner in...but everyone said " let's give him a chance ". Well, there ya go

John Boehner (R-Ohio), Eric Cantor(R-Virginia) and Global Governance: TransAtlantic Policy Network http://w...ww.tpnonline.org/congress.html

Agenda: strengthen the institutional structure for ongoing transatlantic political dialogue, building on the evolving Transatlantic Legislators Dialogue (TLD) between Members of the European Parliament and the US Congress, possibly into a Transatlantic Assembly.
The TAP helped produce the report Global Governance 2025

[genomega]

Since the Country no longer has a budget, there is no other choice at the moment you can't just stop mailing out SS checks and pension checks. It's going to take some time to turn this thing around, the GOP's first official duty cannot be shutting the Government down. The last time it happened, although it was the fault of Clinton and the Democrats the msm blamed the Republicans and they got booted out of office.

[gene r swank]

All the GOP has to do is stop all the funding for Obumers bills. tHE hOUSE HAS THE POWER TO DO IT.

[william e grant]

If they don't do what the people want impeach them all of them if we have to, if we get one out of a dozen the rest will get the message.

[eredy]

hes aa shill

[Sue]

Health care cannot be repealed, yet, we do not have a majority in the senate, and a WH occupier with a veto pen. We DO have to pay our bills. If they cut spending in the same bill, then it makes sense: as long as they are indeed CUTTING.