Debt ceiling bill poised to clear key House committee, teeing up final vote

The compromise bill to raise the debt ceiling faced its first major test Tuesday in the House Rules Committee, where two of the panel’s nine Republicans said they would oppose bringing it to the House floor for a vote.

But a key swing vote Republican on the committee, Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, signaled late Tuesday afternoon that he was inclined to support the rule that would send the bill to the floor.

“I anticipate voting for this rule,” Massie said about two hours into a marathon committee meeting, noting that this would be contingent on reading the final rule at the end of the meeting.