Republicans seek to avoid debt backlash Republicans in the House of Representatives on Monday introduced a bill to extend temporarily the debt limit, avoiding a confrontation with President Barack Obama amid concerns that they would face a backlash for steering the US government towards default. The House will vote on Wednesday on the bill, which would "ensure complete and timely payment of the obligations of the United States government" until May 19. The Treasury has been using "extraordinary" measures to pay its bills since the $16.4tn debt ceiling was technically reached at the end of last year. Eric Cantor, House majority leader, signalled last week that Republicans were ready to pass an extension of the debt limit. "This is the first step to get on the right track, reduce our deficit and get focused on creating better living conditions for our families and children," Mr Cantor said following a two-day Republican retreat. It's time to come together and get to work. In spite of renewed willingness to avoid economic brinkmanship, the Republican bill still comes with conditions. Congress would have until April 15 to come up with a budget agreement and if they do not lawmakers" salaries will be withheld in an escrow account. Chuck Schumer, the New York Democratic senator, told NBC on Sunday that the willingness of Republicans to back down on the debt ceiling fight was a victory for Mr Obama but that a longer extension was necessary. "I think it should be longer because we don't want to play fiscal cliff every three months," Mr Schumer said. But it's a positive step . . . on the budget. The White House has not said if it would support the stopgap debt limit extension and has resisted short-term increases in the past. However, Jay Carney, White House spokesman, said it was encouraging that Republicans might back off from holding the economy "hostage" in exchange for sharp cuts to Medicare and education spending. Even if the debt ceiling fight is delayed, lawmakers are still facing a March 1 deadline to reach an agreement to avoid the automatic budget cuts, or "sequestration," that was delayed by the fiscal cliff deal reached on New Year's day.