JEFFERSON CITY (AP) -- A bipartisan group of current and former Missouri officials is calling for federal leaders to address the national debt.

Leaders of Missouri's chapter of the Campaign to Fix the Debt said Monday at the state Capitol that addressing the nation's debt requires a bipartisan effort from elected leaders in Washington.

The state chapter is led by former U.S. Sen. Kit Bond, a Republican; former Gov. Bob Holden, a Democrat; Republican Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder and Democratic state Treasurer Clint Zweifel (ZWY'-ful).

The national Campaign to Fix the Debt claims a membership of more than 300,000 business leaders, citizens and current and former elected officials. The organization also is urging efforts to avoid the so-called "fiscal cliff" of federal tax increases and spending cuts that could push the economy into recession.

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