Bachmann, Cravaack Defy GOP Leadership
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The debt ceiling debate is highlighting a divide amongst Republican leaders as many Republicans in Congress did not support House Speaker John Boehner's proposal Friday.
The numbers speak for themselves on the bill meant to keep the United States from defaulting on its loans. The bill passed with 218 voting yea and 210 voting nay. Boehner tried to sell the proposal to Republicans for days.
"He was contending with 87 new Congress members, plus a Tea Party Congress led by Congresswoman Michele Bachmann of 60 members," said Kathryn Pearson, an associate political science professor at the University of Minnesota.
Twenty-two Republicans broke party ranks, including two from Minnesota: Rep. Chip Cravaack and Bachmann. They did so, because they were unhappy with the plan to raise the debt ceiling without more spending controls in place.
In a statement, Cravaack called it, "A bad bill that does little to thwart our abysmal economic trajectory."
On her blog, Bachmann wrote, "No entity can borrow indefinitely, spending money it doesn't have without paying it back."
Pearson said both may now face consequences from party leadership, such as not getting support for their legislation or less than desirable committee assignments.
Of course, no matter the consequences from leadership the thing they care most about is being re-elected and the promises they made during 2010.
"It's a complicated balancing act," Pearson said.
While many Republicans are holding firm on their stance against raising the debt limit, Democrats are pushing for it.
Just this week, Democratic Sen. Al Franken tried to get the message across by suggesting America's security could be at risk, because there wouldn't be money to pay for border patrol. He held a sign that read "Welcome Terrorists" while giving a speech.
Pearson said she saw Franken's sign and thought it was one of the ways both Republicans and Democrats use rhetoric to frame the issue to their advantage.
The one issue both sides seem to agree on is that a compromise needs to happen soon.
"This is a critical moment in our country's history, and we have to come up with something," Franken said.
The rest of Minnesota's congressional delegation voted along party lines.
