Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., can expect a talk with Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, on Tuesday after becoming the first Republican to say he is willing to vote for a "clean" debt ceiling bill.

"I'll have a little chat with Sen. Kirk and others and try to explain to them that we need to hold the line against this sort of irresponsible spending and debt," Minority Whip Cornyn said Monday on Fox News Channel's "On the Record with Greta van Susteren." 

Talking Points Memo confirmed Kirk's position with his staff after Politico reporter Manu Raju tweeted the news earlier Monday.

Republicans, who have tied the federal budget to defunding Obamacare, now are looking at making raising the debt ceiling part of that same debate.

The government has been partly shut down since Oct. 1, and the debt ceiling limit is Oct. 17. After that, the government may not be able to pay its bills.

Cornyn told Van Susteren that Republicans will not support a clean debt ceiling increase. To do so, he said, "is basically saying we're not going to do anything to deal with $17 trillion in debt before we give the president another trillion dollars on this maxed-out credit card."

Though President Barack Obama says the country needs $5 million added to its credit limit, Cornyn made it clear the GOP wouldn't let that happen.

"I don't believe so," he said. "Stay tuned."

The credit limit vote will be the most important vote taken this year, he said.

"This is the fight for the future of our country and for our children. This is not a joke. It's not a reality game. This is the real deal."

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