Florida Delegation Splits on Party Lines on Raising the Debt Ceiling

The Florida delegation split on party lines as the U.S. House voted on Tuesday nightto raise the federal debt ceiling with no conditions until March 2015. The measure passed 221-201 with 28 Republicans sticking with U.S. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, to support it. Only two Democrats joined 199 Republicans in opposing the measure.

Boehner announced to the House Republican caucus at a meeting on Tuesday that he would move to end the three-year battle over the debt ceiling but received little support from his side. Every single Republican from the Florida delegation opposed raising the debt ceiling while all of the Democrats representing the Sunshine State voted to support the proposal.

Tonights vote to raise our debt limit and increase the debt burden on American families was something I could not support, said U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho, R-Fla. Time and again, Congress has voted to raise the debt limit without addressing the serious problem of out-of-control government spending. This crushing debt currently exceeds $17 trillion and is increasing at a steady clip. We must ask ourselves at what point will Democrats and Republicans wake up and address this uncontrollable freight train that doesnt discriminate according to party affiliation and is the biggest threat to our national security.

I was elected to Congress to work on solutions to decrease the national debt and enact fiscally responsible laws, Yoho added. I am and always will be committed to doing this. The future of our country, and the futures of our children and grandchildren depend on what we do here.

On Tuesday night, U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Fla., also explained his opposition to raising the debt ceiling.

"If our nation's $17 trillion of debt were divided up, each person would owe more than $54,000. The debt has almost doubled since 2005, Ross said. I have consistently stated that I will not support limitlessly increasing the debt ceiling unless it is coupled with a solid plan to decrease our debt. Presidents throughout history -- including President Obama -- have made concessions when it comes to the debt ceiling, and this time should be no exception, especially when almost half of our debt accrued under President Obama's leadership."