Senate leadership is facing bipartisan pushback over one option floated for raising the country’s debt ceiling: tying it to a sweeping defense bill, The Hill reported. The path has potential benefits. By tying a deeply partisan debt limit fight to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which typically passes with wide bipartisan support, leadership takes two items off of Congress's packed year-end to-do list ahead of a Dec. 15 deadline for taking action on the borrowing limit. But the idea is already setting off alarm bells on both sides of the Capitol. Both House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who agree on little these days, are warning that a defense bill that includes a debt ceiling hike would struggle to clear their chamber. “We’ve told the Senate that. That’s the reality. Those are the numbers,” Hoyer said. Hoyer confirmed the option has been discussed by Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) but added, “We don’t think it’s the best option because we’re not sure we can do it. And we have to pass the debt limit.”
