News Summary: House GOP seeks to avoid debt crisis

House Republicans seek to defuse debt crisis with vote on 3-month increase in borrowing limit

BLAME GAME: With tacit support from President Barack Obama, House Republicans tried to defuse a potential debt crisis with legislation to prevent an economy-rattling fiscal crisis for at least four months.

FIGHT ANOTHER DAY: Pending GOP legislation marks a tactical retreat by House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, who wants to avoid a first-ever default on U.S. payment and debt obligations as he wrestles with Obama and his Democratic allies over taxes, spending and the deficit.

TRIANGULATION: The move would give the government enough borrowing leeway to meet four months' worth of obligations, delaying a showdown next month that Republicans fear they would lose. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said the chamber would immediately move to advance the legislation to the White House, which has announced Obama would sign it.