House Democrats take steps to force vote on clean debt ceiling increase

House Democrats have taken their first procedural steps to try to force a House vote on a clean debt ceiling increase, multiple Democratic leadership aides tell CBS News, a long-shot effort that is unlikely to come to fruition but allows Democrats to argue that they are taking action to address the looming crisis. 

Democratic Rep. Kevin McGovern of Massachusetts, the top Democrat on the House Rules Committee, introduced a special rule Tuesday that would allow Democrats to attach a clean debt ceiling increase to an unrelated bill introduced by Rep. Mark DeSaulnier, of California, in January. The bill was introduced when Republicans took control of the House and referred to several committees for consideration with the intention of using it as a vehicle for Democrats to try to force a floor vote on anything they believed was necessary.  

One Democratic leadership aide described it as a "break the glass in case of emergency" option.