House disapproves debt ceiling hike

WASHINGTON, Jan. 19 (UPI) -- A resolution disapproving President Obama's plans to raise the debt ceiling another $1.2 trillion has been sent to the U.S. Senate after passing the House.

The lower chamber voted 239-176 to send the measure on with just one Republican voting against it and six Democrats voting in favor, The Hill reported Thursday.

Democrats called the vote a waste of time since the Senate is expected to reject it.

Also the vote fell far short of the two-thirds majority needed for passage if Obama were to veto the resolution.

Rules Committee Chairman David Drier of California was the only Republican to oppose the measure but two other GOP representatives, Jeff Landry of Louisiana and Joe Walsh of Illinois, voted "present."

The six Democrats who joined Republicans were Jason Altmire of Pennsylvania, John Barrow of Georgia, Dan Boren of Oklahoma, Jim Matheson of Utah and Larry Kissell and Mike McIntyre, both of North Carolina.