House on track to raise debt ceiling and avert default, with Biden and McCarthy confident of passage

WASHINGTON (AP) — The debt ceiling and budget cuts package that would avert a federal default headed toward House passage late Wednesday as President Joe Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy assembled a bipartisan coalition of centrist Democrats and Republicans against fierce conservative blowback and progressive dissent.

The hard-fought compromise pleased few, but lawmakers assessed it was better than the alternative — devastating economic upheaval — if Congress failed to act. Tensions rose when Republican support lagged on a procedural vote in the afternoon, but the package ultimately sailed ahead once Democrats unleashed their votes in a show of bipartisan support.

A final House roll call was expected by evening.