Forget about raising the federal debt limit. House Republicans are proposing to ignore it altogether -- at least until May 18.
The House plans to vote Wednesday on a measure that would leave the $16.4 trillion debt limit intact, but declares it "shall not apply" from the date the measure passes until mid-May.
This approach -- novel in modern times -- would let Republicans avoid a potentially disastrous fight over the debt limit without actually voting to let the Treasury borrow more money.