Bloglander

A recent proposal to give President Obama power to unilaterally raise the debt limit has received a cool reception from U.S. House Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Eastern Washington.

The Inlander has learned that McMorris Rodgers would not support the proposal by Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky that would give Obama the authority to raise the limit himself so long as he seeks congressional approval three different times.

Instead, Todd Weiner, communications director for the representative, says in an email that McMorris Rodgers supports a proposal by House Speaker Rep. John Boehner of Ohio to match the amount the debt ceiling is raised with spending cuts. He adds that McMorris Rodgers, the fifth-highest-ranking Republican in the House, is working closely with Boehner and House Majority Leader Rep. Eric Cantor of Virginia.

Negotiations on raising the debt ceiling continue today in Washington, as the Aug. 2 deadline for government debt default looms. So far, Republicans have rejected attempts by the Obama administration to both cut spending and close tax loopholes in order to increase revenue.

Through her spokesman, McMorris Rodgers says she is worried the U.S. is facing the sort of economic turmoil that has engulfed Greece in recent months, adding that raising the debt ceiling by $2.4 trillion would equal $20,000 in government debt for every family in Spokane.