House Democrats Try to Force Vote on Debt Ceiling

WASHINGTON—House Democrats took a step Tuesday toward trying to force a vote on a debt-ceiling increase if they can win over some Republicans, as GOP leaders and the White House remained in a standoff with just weeks to go until the U.S. faces a possible default.

Democrats said they would seek to use a discharge petition, which allows a majority of House lawmakers to bring a bill directly to the floor without the cooperation of leadership. But it is time-consuming and rarely successful, and Democrats earlier this year said they had shelved the idea as too difficult.