Capitol View: July 30, 2011 Archive

Cravaack fundraises off of debt ceiling vote

Posted at 3:30 PM on July 30, 2011 by Brett Neely (1 Comments)
Filed under: U.S. House

WASHINGTON - Freshman GOP Rep. Chip Cravaack is likely in the doghouse with the House Republican leadership after voting against Speaker John Boehner's bill to raise the debt ceiling and slash spending. That could mean no help from the party in what's expected to be a hotly-contested election for Cravaack's seat next year.

Instead, Cravaack's reelection campaign is capitalizing on his no vote against the party leadership, using it to raise money from supporters. In an email sent Saturday entitled "On My Own," Cravaack writes:

So now, I'm in a bit of a pickle. Big Labor Union Bosses, MoveOn.org, and other liberal special interests are increasing their attacks against me. Meanwhile the Republican establishment in Washington isn't happy that I stood on principle.

The email continues, challenging supporters to raise a collective $25,000 by Monday. A group of unions and liberal groups is running ads in Cravaack's 8th District, criticizing him for his stance against raising the debt ceiling.

Cravaack isn't the only Minnesota member to solicit donations using opposition to raising the debt ceiling as a key talking point. Rep. Michele Bachmann's presidential campaign has also used the debt limit vote to ask supporters for money.

Peterson votes against Reid debt limit bill in the House

Posted at 3:30 PM on July 30, 2011 by Brett Neely
Filed under: U.S. House

WASHINGTON - DFL Rep. Collin Peterson was one of 11 Democrats who crossed party lines to vote with Republicans and defeat a measure in the U.S. House that would have raised the nation's debt ceiling while making spending cuts.

By a 173 to 246 vote, the House rejected the proposal put forward by Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. The House and Senate have now both rejected debt ceiling bills put forward by the other chamber, possibly opening up ground for leadership to develop a compromise that can ultimately pass before the Treasury says it will run out of cash on August 2nd.

Peterson is a member of the conservative Blue Dog Coalition of Democrats and has frequently voted with Republicans in the past. The veteran lawmaker was not immediately available to comment on his vote.