House delegation votes 4-4 to raise debt ceiling

WASHINGTON - Minnesota's House delegation voted 4-4 to extend the nation's borrowing authority. Overall, the vote was 269 for, 161 against.

In a moment of high drama, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ), who narrowly survived a shooting in January, returned to the House chamber for the first time since the assault to cast a vote. Vice President Joe Biden was also in the Capitol, accompanying Giffords.

Republicans John Kline and Erik Paulsen were joined by DFLers Collin Peterson and Tim Walz in favor of the measure, which had consumed Washington and the public for weeks on end.

"While it is far from perfect, I am pleased this proposal is based on the framework of 'Cut, Cap and Balance' and free from any job-killing tax hikes," said Kline in a statement, referring to an earlier bill which failed in the Senate.

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DFLers Keith Ellison and Betty McCollum voted against the bill, joining their ideological polar opposites, Republicans Michele Bachmann and Chip Cravaack.

"Tying massive cuts to a debt ceiling increase is completely unnecessary, totally counterproductive, and it will make America's job crisis even worse," said McCollum in a statement. "And, with this bill, the Republicans are tossing the heavy burden of deficit reduction onto America's middle class without asking even one penny from the nation's wealthiest individuals and corporations."

174 Republicans voted to raise the debt ceiling, joined by 95 Democrats. The other 95 Democrats voted against the bill, as did 66 Republicans.

The Senate votes tomorrow around noon on the measure. Both Minnesota Senators, Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar, said today they would vote for the bill.