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Senators vote for budget deal, not representative
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Georgia Sens. Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson, both Republicans, voted for the budget package that extended the federal borrowing limit and reopened the federal government Wednesday. The area’s U.S. representative, Republican Jack Kingston, voted no.
Here are statements the lawmakers released after the late-night vote, and after President Obama’s signed the bill into law:

Kingston: “The drama of the government shutdown and the debt-limit debate has served as a distraction from the real debate here. Our national debt is larger than the size of the entire American economy, and government borrows 42 cents for every dollar it spends. I opposed this proposal because it does nothing to check the growth of government or put our country on a more sustainable path.
“While I could not support this package, I remain committed to working with Democrats and Republicans alike to advance reforms that will free future generations from a life indebted to China. We must come together to ensure the next three months are used productively so we are not in this position again.”

Chambliss: “...While this is certainly not the deal Republicans hoped for, it is the best deal we could negotiate under the circumstances.
“I agree with my fellow Republicans and the American people that Obamacare is a deeply flawed and damaging law. I remain as committed as ever to dismantling Obamacare before it has a chance to further damage our economy. “However, defunding Obamacare in the CR was never a realistic goal. Republicans control only one-half of one-third of the federal government, and the president has the power to veto. Shutting down the government only placed undue stress on Americans and on the economy and lost Republican’s advantage to negotiate on the debt ceiling.
“Our fiscal crisis is the most important challenge we face. While I don’t believe Congress should allow a potentially catastrophic default by the federal government, I do believe that any increase in the debt ceiling should have come with policy reforms and assurances that future spending and deficits are being addressed in a meaningful way...”

Isakson, “These past few weeks should be a wake-up call. It’s time that Congress gets back to doing our job of budgeting, appropriating and conducting oversight to address our unsustainable debt and deficits. That’s why I have introduced a bipartisan bill, the Biennial Budgeting and Appropriations Act, with Sen. (Jeanne) Shaheen that would reform our nation’s broken budget process and restore fiscal discipline.
“Today’s bipartisan agreement reopens the federal government through Jan. 15 and sets up budget negotiations between the House and Senate for a long-term spending plan. I’m pleased that the bill averts a default while preserving and protecting the historic government-spending cuts from the Budget Control Act of 2011 that have resulted in the largest spending cuts in 50 years… “

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