Debt limit time crunch could test both parties

House Democrats are sending an early warning shot as the government’s borrowing window inches to a close: winning Democratic support for a debt-ceiling hike will come at a cost for Republicans.

The minority-party Democrats have little power to dictate the debate, but a number of conservative Republicans have long opposed debt limit increases to protest deficit spending. The dynamics could give Democrats leverage in the fight — and they say they intend to use it.

“We’d want to negotiate, because we know they’ve got a lot of Freedom Caucus folks who would never vote for a debt ceiling,” Rep. Ami Bera (D-Calif.) said. 

“Of course we don’t want a default,” he continued. “But if they’re asking for our votes, there’s other things — like the Department of Education — that are relatively important.”