By John Bennett and Thomas McKinless

When asked whether attaching a debt ceiling increase to a long-term budget bill would break the White House’s pledge for a “clean” bill, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said it “can sometimes be a useful strategy” to attach a debt ceiling-raising measure to some other major legislation that “we know will pass.” “The administration will not negotiate on a debt limit increase,” Earnest said. “The full faith and credit of the United States will not be subjected to a political negotiation.”