Democratic debt-limit bill falls short in US House

WASHINGTON: A Democratic bill to raise the U.S. debt limit fell short in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives on Saturday as it failed to get the supermajority vote needed for quick passage.

By a vote of 173 to 246, the bill fell short of the two-thirds needed to pass under rules designed to limit debate and pass bills quickly. Those rules are usually reserved for noncontroversial measures such as naming courthouses. (Reuters)