WASHINGTON, D.C. The U.S. House narrowly managed to pass debt-limitation legislation Friday afternoon. Local congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler was one of the 219 Republicans supporting the plan, which needed 217 votes to pass. Democrats were in unanimous opposition.

             President Obama and Democratic leaders of the U.S. Senate have rejected the House measure, which was sponsored by House Speaker John Boehner. Its uncertain what will happen now. This coming Tuesday, the nation runs out of borrowing capacity to pay for earlier congressional commitments.

             The consensus of opinion is that there will be funds on hand to make Social Security and military pension payments next week, no matter what happens in Congress. But paying other bills may become a problem if the political impasse grinds on later into August.

             Herrera Beutler released the following statement following her vote in favor of the Boehner debt ceiling proposal.

             All through the debate over how to address the debt ceiling, I have maintained that our solution must meet three criteria. First, it must protect Social Security. Not only does this plan include no cuts to Social Security benefits, it helps us meet our debt obligations and stops the Administration from making a decision to withhold Social Security checks. 

             Second, I said I could not support a plan that included any increase in tax rates on families and small businesses in my district. This plan does not include a single tax increase. 

             Third, the plan must put country back on a financially responsible path by addressing Washington, DCs overspending problem. This plan not only changes the trajectory of this countrys spending, it makes a down payment on lowering our nations debt.

             I do not want Aug. 2 to pass without a solution to our countrys impending debt ceiling issue. This plan represents the second solution in that many weeks that I have helped send to the Senate, after last weeks bipartisan Cut, Cap and Balance proposal. The plan I voted for today isnt perfect, but its a serious proposal to meet the nations debt obligations without issuing D.C. another blank check.