The White House is pushing for an early deal to raise the $22 trillion debt limit before it hits a crisis stage in September, and Democrats so far haven’t indicated they want a fight.
Over the past few weeks, officials have started to campaign for a spring or summer deal, concerned that Democrats will use the issue to either win spending on pet projects or blast the GOP as deficit kings.
What’s more, they want to make sure the fight would not come during the fall budget battle that again threatens to close parts of the government.
A debt deal is crucial to make sure that Uncle Sam has enough money to pay its bills and loans and not go into default. Such a move, which neither political side wants, could crash the stock market.
Those in the debt limit talks are hoping to add the issue to pending legislation, such as a supplemental spending bill for disaster aid which would be difficult for Democrats to stonewall because it includes money for their constituencies.
But now officials are hearing encouraging news from Democrats that they might not fight any deal to raise the debt ceiling.
