WASHINGTON — No budget, no pay.
House Republican leaders yesterday set a vote for tomorrow to raise the nation’s debt ceiling and suspend Congress members’ pay if they fail to adopt budgets.
The nation will exhaust its borrowing power under the $16.4 trillion debt limit by early March. The Republican legislation would lift the ceiling until May 19.
The move requires that the Senate pass a budget resolution by April 15.
If the House or Senate fails to meet the tax-day deadline, lawmakers’ salaries would be suspended until their chambers pass a budget.
The move has agitated Senate Democrats such as Majority Whip Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), who wants a longer-term agreement.
“Every 90 days we’re going to replay this fiscal-cliff movie?” Durbin asked yesterday.