Herrera Beutler votes against budget deal

U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Camas, voted against the two-year budget deal approved by the House on Wednesday.

The deal passed 266-167, with Democrats supplying the bulk of votes in favor.

The local congresswoman said in a statement she could not support the deal since it raises the debt ceiling without a promise to reduce the federal deficit.

“Since taking this office, I’ve consistently required a significant commitment to reducing our nation’s crippling deficit to accompany any vote to raise the borrowing limit — and today’s deal falls short of that requirement,” Herrera Beutler said in a statement.

The congresswoman continued: “We simply can’t afford to let an opportunity to reduce our $18.4 trillion debt pass by without continuing to lower the burden of debt on taxpayers.”