The Republican-controlled House of Representatives on Friday narrowly passed Speaker John Boehner's plan to raise the nation's the debt ceiling and slash government spending, sending the measure to Senate Democrats who have promised to immediately defeat it.
Boehner's proposal was approved by the House in a sharply polarized 218-210 vote that was delayed by a day while the speaker rounded up support from wary tea party conservatives.
Even if defeated in the Senate, the Boehner plan now is the Republican negotiating position for hammering out a deal with congressional Democrats and President Barack Obama to avert a possible government default next week.
Friday's vote was a critical test of Boehner's control over his tea party-infused GOP caucus. The speaker was forced to quell a right-wing revolt over the measure after a number of members complained that it doesn't do enough to shrink the size of government and stem the tide of Washington's red ink.
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