U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston, R-Ga. 1st, voted against a proposal to increase the nation's statutory debt limit.
The proposal, hailed as a last minute effort to keep the country from defaulting on its debt, passed 269-161. It is expected to face a Senate vote today and, if passed there, go to the president.
Kingston, however, said, "I commend the speaker for fighting the good fight. We moved the debate from tax increases to spending caps and matched each dollar of debt limit increase to more than a dollar of spending cuts. But as far as we came, the deck was stacked against us. Controlling one-half of one-third of government limits the ability of small government conservatives to change the direction of our country overnight.
"It is clear America has a long struggle ahead of her as we continue to rein in spending and get our fiscal house in order. I intend to continue the fight and work for the reforms and spending cuts we need so badly in America."