Minnesota’s delegation split on debt compromise

Updated: 8/2, 7:00 a.m.

Minnesota members of the U.S. House of Representatives split evenly on Monday’s vote to raise the debt ceiling—which passed 269-161 with members of both the Tea Party Caucus and Congressional Progressive Caucus opposing it.

The Senate is expected to take up the bill today—both Minnesota senators have said they’ll support it.

Supports

U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar: Klobuchar said Monday that she’ll support the debt ceiling compromise to avoid default: ”While it is certainly not a perfect plan, the time has come to break through the partisan stalemate and pass a solution that provides certainty so we can move our country forward.”

U.S. Sen. Al Franken: Franken announced Monday afternoon that he’ll support the compromise, despite the fact that ”the deal that has been struck is not balanced.” He spoke on the Senate floor Saturday in favor of a compromise plan, although he hasn’t yet said whether he supports the specifics of this plan.

U.S. Rep. Tim Walz: Walz voted for the debt ceiling compromise. He said in a statement that it “provides our economy with stability it desperately needs during this time of recovery.” Previously, Walz voted for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s debt ceiling plan, but against the plan proposed by House Speaker John Boehner.

U.S. Rep. John Kline: Kline voted for the debt ceiling compromise. Kline previously voted for House Speaker John Boehner’s debt ceiling plan Friday, which also included a constitutional balanced budget amendment.

U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen: Paulsen voted for the debt ceiling compromise. Previously, Paulsen joined Kline to vote for House Speaker John Boehner’s debt ceiling plan Friday, which also included a constitutional balanced budget amendment.

U.S. Rep. Collin Peterson: Peterson ended up supporting the debt ceiling compromise, despite reservations that agriculture could be cut more deeply than other areas. Previously, Peterson voted against Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s debt ceiling bill, as well as House Speaker John Boehner’s.

Opposes

U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann: Bachmann skipped a campaign event at the Pizza Ranch in Newton, Iowa, to attend the vote. In a statement Sunday, Bachmann said the deal “spends too much and doesn’t cut enough.” She said she plans to oppose the bill.

U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison: As co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Ellison said Monday afternoon he opposes the debt ceiling compromise. Ellison has supported raising the ceiling, but said the caucus wasn’t obligated to vote for it if the cost was too great.

U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum: McCollum voted no on the bill. She said in a statement that the bill’s cuts hurt the economy, and that “the Tea Party Republican majority in the U.S. House of Representatives imperiled millions of jobs, businesses, and the economic well-being of every American.” Previously, McCollum voted for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s debt ceiling plan and against the plan proposed by House Speaker John Boehner.

U.S. Rep. Chip Cravaack: Cravaack voted against the debt ceiling compromise because it didn’t go far enough in the cuts direction, as he told MinnPost: It’s like “putting a three inch band aid on a five inch artery.” Cravaack also opposed both Boehner and Reid’s debt ceiling bills.