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House committee advances debt ceiling deal for final vote Wednesday

Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky. (L), who voted Tuesday to advance the debt limit deal to a full House vote, and Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., who voted against advancing the bill, take notes during a House Rules Committee hearing on the Fiscal Responsibility Act to increase the federal debt limit. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI
1 of 8 | Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky. (L), who voted Tuesday to advance the debt limit deal to a full House vote, and Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., who voted against advancing the bill, take notes during a House Rules Committee hearing on the Fiscal Responsibility Act to increase the federal debt limit. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo

May 30 (UPI) -- The House Rules Committee has voted 7-6 to advance the debt ceiling deal, brokered by President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, to the House floor for a final vote Wednesday before it goes to the Senate.

Tuesday's committee vote comes after Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., announced his intent to vote for the rule that governs the bill's debate.

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Massie's vote ultimately quashed conservative opposition to the bill by helping Republicans lock down a simple majority of at least seven of the panel's votes despite efforts to kill the measure in committee.

"I want to see the rule, but I anticipate voting for this rule," Massie said earlier Tuesday. "And when people want to express their ideology, the floor of the House on the actual final passage of the bill is the place to do that."

"What do the 13 of us owe the rest of Congress? We owe them an honest shake and a playing field that doesn't change," Massie added.

The 13-member committee, which controls how, when and whether a measure will be handled by the House, advanced the debt limit deal after voting Tuesday evening. The deal now moves to the full House, which will debate and make a final vote on the legislation on Wednesday.

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Massie's support for the bill was enough to block an effort by some conservatives, including Republican Reps. Chip Roy of Texas and Ralph Norman of North Carolina who both voted against the measure, to stop the bill in committee.

On Saturday it was reported that both sides had finally reached a deal, just days before the United States was expected to default for the first time in its history.

"Republicans are poised to deliver big, consequential change in Washington," House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said on Twitter as the news broke.

"Soon, we will vote for a responsible debt limit agreement that stops Democrats' reckless spending, claws back unspent COVID funds, blocks Biden's new tax schemes, & much, much more."

House Republicans repeatedly have insisted on spending cuts to social programs, yet some like Norman believe the bill does not go far enough.

"I don't know what else they could could offer," Norman told Politico, referring to potential amendments. He later added: "I'm going to do what's in the best interest and this bill is not in the best interest of the country. That is why Democrats are voting for it."

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