Minn. senators both vote in favor of debt deal
Both of Minnesota's Democratic senators voted in favor of the deal to raise the debt ceiling.
Neither Al Franken nor Amy Klobuchar were thrilled with the bill, which relies on spending cuts alone to trim more than $2 trillion from the deficit over the next decade.
Both would have also liked to have seen tax loopholes ended to raise more government revenues.
But with a possible government default imminent, Klobuchar said at least this bill protects Social Security and Medicare from cuts.
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Franken said his party had an obligation to make sure the debt ceiling measure passed, even though he doesn't support the approach.
"This reflects the fact that essentially there was a game of chicken, and in a game of chicken, the player that is most responsible is at a disadvantage," Franken said.
Klobuchar said she worries that a crisis of culture has become the norm on Capitol Hill.
"What bothers me is how inefficient it is, and how we wait to the last minute to get things done," she said. "That's disturbing. And that's not how anyone would run their family, their business or even a local government, so I'd like to see that change."
Klobuchar had hoped to include in the bill another agreement she brokered to end a major ethanol industry tax break, but it didn't happen. She says she hopes to revive the ethanol deal when Congress returns in the fall.
With the debt ceiling vote out of the way, both the House and Senate are now on recess until after Labor Day.
