Heck, Berkley vote for debt-limit bill

WASHINGTON -- Reps. Joe Heck and Shelley Berkley of Nevada voted Monday for the emergency deal to cut spending and raise the nation's debt limit.

For Republican Heck, the vote was an easy one. For Democrat Berkley, it was difficult.

Democrats split down the middle, with 95 voting for the agreement and 95 voting against it.

Some said it will stabilize financial markets and shield Social Security and Medicaid from cuts. Others decried the $917 billion in spending reductions over 10 years that it contained and the possibility of at least $1.2 trillion more through the recommendations of a 12-member House-Senate committee or through automatic cuts if the panel deadlocks.

Emerging from a midday caucus of House Democrats, Berkley said she had not made up her mind. Later, as she was voting in favor of the deal, her office issued a statement.

"There is a lot in this legislation I would change, but a vote against this bipartisan compromise ... is a vote for a devastating default that could lead to a financial collapse that kills thousands of jobs, denies seniors Social Security checks, denies pay to our active-duty military and eliminates benefits for veterans," Berkley said.

Berkley, who is running for U.S. Senate, declined to answer questions about the vote, referring reporters to the statement.

"In the end I weighed everything, and this was best for the American people," she said.

Heck said the bill was similar to Republican debt proposals he had voted on in recent weeks.

"The fact we have dollar-for-dollar spending cuts associated with the debt limit increase, no new taxes and real accountability measures were the three things I wanted to see, and those three things are there," Heck said.

Heck argued that by averting a credit default that would occur if Congress does not raise the debt ceiling by the end of today , a measure of "stability" will be restored to the economy, encouraging businesses to consider adding jobs.

"Hopefully we will see an increase in economic growth and folks coming in off the sidelines," Heck said. "Certainly we have a long ways to go. This itself is not a jobs bill. We have to look at more ways to stimulate growth to create jobs."

The Senate is scheduled to vote on the measure today .

Sen. Harry Reid, the Democratic majority leader from Nevada, helped develop the plan and has endorsed it.

Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev., an appointee who is running for a full term, did not disclose how he planned to vote, saying he had not decided.

Contact Stephens Washington Bureau Chief Steve Tetreault at stetreault@stephensmedia.com or 202-783-1760.