Even though mid-Missouri’s two U.S. representatives are both republican, they did not share the same vote on a bill to keep the government from defaulting on its debts.

Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-9) voted in favor of the legislation, which raises the debt ceiling by more than $2 trillion and cuts federal spending by a similar amount over the next decade.

Luetkemeyer issued the following statement in an email shortly after the House vote:

“When this debate first started, the president requested another blank check to continue spending money without any spending cuts or budget reforms.  As the process progressed, the president and his allies focused on raising taxes in order to have more money to spend.  While the final product is far from perfect, we have used our majority in one half of one of the three branches of government to secure an agreement that stays true to our conservative principles: this legislation cuts more spending than it increases the debt ceiling, caps future spending, advances the cause of a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution, and averts a default by the United States -- all without increasing taxes.

“The debate in Washington has been fundamentally changed from how much can we spend to how much can we cut.  Today is an important step forward on the long road to get our fiscal house in order. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues to cut spending and reform our nation’s budget in order to jumpstart the economy and lift the finanical burden that has been placed on future generations.”

Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler (MO-4) didn’t agree with the legislation, citing cuts to national defense.

She issued the following statement regarding her vote against the bill:

“I appreciate House Speaker John Boehner’s rejection of liberal demands for a blank check debt limit increase and liberal calls for tax increases, but the solution approved by Congress and sent to President Obama dramatically cuts our national defense,” said Hartzler. “This agreement strips $350 billion from the Base Defense Budget and has the Obama Administration bragging that this is, ‘the first defense cut since the 1990’s.’ The package also leaves the door open to the possibility of $500 billion in defense cuts down the road. This is unacceptable! The simple truth is that the United States Constitution requires the federal government to do only a handful of things – the most important of which is to provide for our national defense.”

“I also have concerns about a watered-down Balanced Budget Amendment provision,” continued Hartzler. “This agreement forces a vote on the Balanced Budget Amendment, but does not require it to pass and be sent to the states for ratification. I worked hard to include language requiring not only a vote on a BBA, but for the House and Senate to pass the Amendment and send it to the states. Only a Balanced Budget Amendment can force Washington to live within its means as American families must do. It is only through spending discipline that America can secure its future economic freedom.”

“Despite my opposition to this legislation, I am pleased that Republicans are changing the debate in Washington,” concluded Hartzler. “We will continue to work to control spending, solve America’s huge debt problem, and balance our budget.”

The House passed the bill 269-161 Monday evening. It now goes on to the Senate where it has even more support. Senators are expected to begin voting on the bill at 11 a.m. central time Tuesday.

Tuesday also is the deadline for passing a bill on the debt issue.