WASHINGTON — House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is coming up short in support for his first big legislative effort, a bill tying a debt ceiling increase to spending cuts, risking serious damage to both his stature and the U.S. economy.
McCarthy needs almost every GOP vote and several remain noncommittal, leaving the speaker without the numbers he needs to pass his plan, according to people familiar with the counting.
The speaker unveiled the proposal Wednesday in hopes of getting fresh leverage with President Joe Biden over the debt-limit debate, but holdouts — both conservative and moderate — have said McCarthy has not yet won them over on the details.
