Analysis: The politics behind Boehner's two-step debt hike
House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) arrives to speak to the press about U.S. debt reduction talks on Capitol Hill in Washington, July 25, 2011. Credit: Reuters/Jason Reed

The chief Democratic vote counter in the House of Representatives said on Tuesday that a few members of his party may back a budget plan developed by House Speaker John Boehner.

"Maybe a few" Democrats will back the Republican plan, House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer said at a news conference. That would boost the bill's chances in what is expected to be a close vote on Wednesday.

Hoyer declined to say whether more than five Democrats would vote for the bill.

House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi