Minn. delegation split on House debt limit bill

Five of Minnesota's eight House members backed a measure allowing the government's borrowing limit to rise, including Democratic Rep. Tim Walz.

"I voted for a bill that if I'd had a chance to write it, if it had been all about what I'd wanted on it certainly wouldn't have done what they just did," Walz said. "But it could have been worse, we could have done nothing."

Democrats Collin Peterson and Rick Nolan also voted for the bill, as did Republicans John Kline and Erik Paulsen.

"One important message that came out of the election was the need to work together," Paulsen said. "I think we're continuing to do that, certainly in the House and we hope the Senate is going to join as well."

Republican Michele Bachmann and Democrats Keith Ellison and Betty McCollum opposed the debt ceiling bill.

Leaders in the Democratic-controlled Senate say they'll approve the measure soon.