Republican Paul Ryan: 'Both parties got us in this mess'

After weeks of wrangling, the US House of Representatives has voted to pass a highly controversial debt bill in order to stop the country potentially defaulting on its debts.

It was passed by 269 votes to 161.

The legislation must be approved by the Senate and by President Barack Obama in order to become law.

Republican Party Representative Paul Ryan said the time for the nation to balance the books was long overdue.