Blackburn Voted Against Harvey Aid Bill Due to Debt Ceiling Raise

Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., said Friday she voted against the Hurricane Harvey relief bill because it contained a debt ceiling increase.

"I was a no vote because we have a debt ceiling increase and a CR [continuing resolution], and we don't get those reforms that we need," Blackburn told Fox News. "I felt like the Harvey and Irma relief, all of these packages should stand alone and not be coupled and have a debt ceiling put on them or a CR put on them. I would have preferred to see these as stand-alone votes."

Blackburn said she voted for the initial Harvey aid bill before it had a debt ceiling raise tacked onto it.

"I voted for the initial hurricane relief package, which is what we should be doing," she said. "We put it up by itself, on the board, and call the vote."

The House passed the bill Friday morning. It now awaits President Donald Trump's signature.

Trump struck a deal with Democrats this week to raise the debt ceiling and keep the government funded for three more months in exchange for passing the Harvey aid bill. Some Republicans were stunned by the move, while others applauded Trump's desire to reach across the aisle and be productive.

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