House Democrats Push for Debt-Ceiling Vote Amid Looming Default

House Democrats have initiated a process that could allow them to bypass Republican leaders in passing legislation to raise the nation's debt ceiling, if they can get a handful of GOP members to join the effort. Democrats have crafted a "special rule" that could allow a bipartisan measure to be considered on the House floor through use of a so-called "discharge petition". To succeed, Democrats would need at least five Republicans to buck their party leadership, assuming all Democrats in the chamber are on board with the effort.