Kline and Walz vote for fiscal cliff deal

While both 1st District Rep. Tim Walz and 2nd District Rep. John Kline made clear they were not thrilled with the last-minute fiscal cliff deal, they both voted for it yesterday in the House. Below are their statements regarding the deal.

Kline was the lone Republican member of the Minnesota congressional delegation to vote for the deal. 

"For too long, I have called on the administration to work with Congress toward creating an environment that helps families by preserving tax relief and providing economic certainty so private-sector employers can create jobs. While I am pleased tax relief for the middle class and small businesses is made permanent by this bipartisan legislation, the sobering reality is our nation remains in a debt crisis caused by reckless, runaway spending that is killing jobs and threatening the future of our children and grandchildren," Kline said in a statement.

He added that looking ahead it is time that President Obama gets serious about solving the nation's debt problems and reforming entitlement programs.

Walz said he was pleased to see congress reach a compromise to avoid the fiscal cliff. But he said the bill is far from perfect.

"I’m deeply disappointed with the Farm Bill extension, which doesn’t include funding for the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Program. Rural America needs certainty. We passed a five-year Farm Bill out of committee in July and there is simply no good reason why House leadership continues to block it from being brought forward for a vote," he said in a statement.   

Two Democrats, Rep. Betty McCollum and Rep. Keith Ellison, joined Kline and Walz in voting for the deal. Voting no were Democratic Rep. Collin Peterson and Republican Reps. Michelle Bachmann, Chip Cravaack and Erik Paulsen.