House Democrats float proposal forcing clean debt bill through House with GOP votes

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said on Tuesday that Democrats will begin sounding out moderate — and potentially vulnerable — Republican lawmakers about forcing a vote on raising the debt ceiling before the June 1 deadline.

Mr. Jeffries, New York Democrat, said officially the maneuver was to give lawmakers a backup option if talks fail next week between House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and President Biden.

“House Democrats are working to ensure we have all options at our disposal to avoid a default,” Mr. Jeffries wrote in a letter to Democratic lawmakers. “The filing of a debt ceiling measure to be brought up on the discharge calendar preserves an important option.”