Boehner Considers Making Debt Ceiling Increase Contingent on Senate Passing Budget

Senate hasn't passed one in four years

House Speaker John A. Boehner's office said Friday that Republican lawmakers are mulling whether to make a short-term increase in the nation's borrowing limit contingent on the Democratic-controlled Senate passing a budget for the first time in four years.

"That is definitely an option," Michael Steel, Mr. Boehner's spokesman, told reporters here at a three-day retreat for the House GOP caucus.