Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY -- President Barack Obama announced Sunday evening that a debt ceiling agreement has been made, with both Republicans and Democrats on board.
The actual details of the agreement are slowly being released to the public, but Utah congressional leaders are weighing in on the proposed plan.
Right now I'm a probable 'No.' I want a solution and not a deal. We've got to take care of the underlying challenge and not just come up with some cuts that might happen 10 years from now.
–Jason Chaffetz
"I am continuing to review the reported proposal but I pledged to not support any debt limit increase absent significant spending cuts, a hard spending cap, and congressional passage of a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution," said Sen. Orrin Hatch. "I took the Cut, Cap, Balance pledge because that plan is what this country needs to climb out of this debt crisis that threatens our country's future. And my word is my bond."
Although the President said an agreement has been made between the two parties' leadership, members of Congress are still sifting through the legislation of the proposed plan before an official vote can be made.
"I haven't seen the legislation yet. I haven't had an opportunity to read it yet. Based on the summary that I've received so far, I'm not inclined to support it," Sen. Mike Lee told CNN. "What I've said since before I was in Congress and since sworn into office, is that I cannot support any effort to raise the debt limit that isn't accompanied by immediate and permanent structural spending reform."
Republicans are still asking for major spending cuts before the debt ceiling is raised, even though Republican leadership says the deal is what they're looking for.
"Right now I'm a probable 'No.' I want a solution and not a deal," said Rep. Jason Chaffetz. "We've got to take care of the underlying challenge and not just come up with some cuts that might happen 10 years from now."
Reps. Jim Matheson and Rob Bishop could not be reached for comment.
