'Spending Addiction': Tennessee Republicans among those voting against debt ceiling bill

WASHINGTON, D.C.--A U.S. Representative from Tennessee is among those who voted against a bill which raises the debt ceiling, calling the bill a continuation of Democrats' "spending addiction."

On Wednesday, the House of Representatives passed a bill to raise the debt ceiling and cut government spending by a vote of 314 for to 117 against.

The “Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023” contains the agreement reached by Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif, and President Joe Biden over raising the debt ceiling ahead of a government default around June 5 while also putting a limit on government spending. Both major branches of the deal would last into 2025.

Among those who voted against the bill is Tennessee Representative John Rose, who issued a statement after submitting his vote.

Rep. Rose states: “I came to Congress to stop Washington’s reckless and out-of-control spending of our hard-earned taxpayer dollars. The time to do this isn’t tomorrow, next year, or next Congress—it’s now. This bill continues the spending addiction of Washington Democrats by essentially giving them the blank check they crave and saddles our children with even more debt. The people I represent overwhelmingly asked that I oppose the bill. I could not in good conscience support this legislation.”

The bill, otherwise known as the Fiscal Responsibility Act, now heads to the Senate for a vote as the June 5 deadline approaches.

Other Republicans from Tennessee who voted against the bill includes Reps. Tim Burchett, Scott DesJarlais, Diana Harshbarger and Andy Ogles.