House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said on Jan. 7 that congressional Republicans plan to raise the nation’s borrowing limit through a sweeping party-line reconciliation bill designed to encompass President-elect Donald Trump’s policy priorities. Johnson described the debt cap increase as a necessary, pro-forma measure to avoid brinkmanship with Democrats that could destabilize bond markets and weaken the dollar while reaffirming the Republican commitment to reducing—not expanding—government spending. At a Capitol Hill press conference following a meeting of GOP leaders, Johnson explained that the plan is designed to prevent Democrats from using the debt ceiling as a bargaining chip under Trump’s administration. By leveraging the reconciliation process, Republicans aim to bypass the 60-vote Senate threshold and maintain control over the details of the legislation….