By Larry Bivins

Wisconsin lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle put aside their misgivings Monday to help pass emergency legislation to avert a federal government default that many economists say could have sent the economy reeling toward another recession.

The House of Representatives voted 269-161 for the Budget Control Act, the legislative byproduct of a deal between Democratic and Republican leaders. The bipartisan approval came from 174 Republicans and 95 Democrats, while 66 Republicans and 95 Democrats voted against it.

Six of Wisconsin's eight House members voted for the bill: Republicans Reid Ribble of De Pere, Tom Petri of Fond du Lac, Paul Ryan of Janesville, Jim Sensenbrenner of Menomonee Falls and Sean Duffy of Ashland, and Democrat Ron Kind of La Crosse. Madison Democrat Tammy Baldwin voted against it and Milwaukee Democrat Gwen Moore did not vote.

The Senate was expected to approve the measure today and send it to President Barack Obama for his signature.

Ribble said the legislation represents a milestone in efforts to control government spending.

"It will hold Congress accountable for its spending and, for the first time in 15 years, both the House and Senate will have a debate on a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution," Ribble said. "After accumulating $14.3 trillion debt and facing the threat of default, Congress finally quit bickering, set personal attacks aside and got to work. I wish it were stronger but this plan is a step in the right direction, not only for the government, but for the American people."

Lawmakers had until today to approve an increase in the nation's $14.3 trillion debt ceiling. Without the increase, the government would begin to run out of money to pay all its bills.

In a dramatic moment during the vote, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, the Arizona Democrat still recovering from a gunshot wound to the head while meeting with constituents in January, walked into the House chamber to cast her vote in favor of the compromise. She was greeted by a prolonged standing ovation.

The legislation calls for cutting government spending by at least $2.1 trillion over 10 years in two stages. It allows Obama's administration to borrow $400 billion immediately and would give the government authority later to borrow an additional $2 trillion to carry it through 2012.

For Obama, the deal means he won't face a similar debt-ceiling crisis in the midst of a re-election campaign next year. For Republicans, it means they get deficit reduction without tax increases, at least in the short term.

For Ashland's Duffy, the measure is a down payment on the fiscal restraint he called for in his campaign to replace retiring Wausau Democrat Dave Obey. But Duffy said the bill was far from ideal.

"With this bill we've now changed the debate in Washington from how much we should spend to how much we should cut," Duffy said in a statement announcing his support. "Is this legislation perfect? Of course not. But that's the nature of the negotiating process. Without betraying our core principles, we have to find an agreement that's good for central and northern Wisconsin families."

The measure establishes a bipartisan 12-member House-Senate panel to produce an additional $1.5 trillion in cuts by Nov. 23, the day before Thanksgiving, and requires Congress to vote without any amendments by Dec. 23. If the committee fails to come up with at least $1.2 trillion in reductions, cuts will automatically trigger across the board, except for Medicaid, Social Security and programs for veterans and federal retirees. The panel could consider tax revenues as part of its deficit-reduction plan.

Also, the legislation requires both the House and Senate to vote on a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution by the end of the year. The House already has passed one measure calling for such an amendment and another bill that would have required the two chambers to pass a balanced-budget amendment before raising the debt ceiling. The Senate rejected both bills.

Disgruntled lawmakers from both parties — liberal Democrats and conservative Republicans — grumbled throughout the day over the legislation that emerged from a weekend agreement that capped weeks of tense negotiations.

Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., said he will not support the bill because it falls short of the budget reform he believes is needed. Johnson complained the legislation would reduce spending in the first year by only $21 billion and that the total amount of deficit reduction is $1.6 trillion less than what would be required to prevent a downgrade of the U.S. debt rating.

"The fact that we are debating how to reduce the growth of government is a good thing, and the Budget Control Act is a step in the right direction," Johnson said. "But it is simply inadequate, and my 'no' vote is my way of acknowledging that we simply must do more."

Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis., indicated in a statement he intends to support the bill.

"This plan is a compromise that will put us on the path to debt and deficit reduction," Kohl said. "It is far better than what would have been the catastrophe of a default, which would have done enormous damage to every family and business in our nation."

In a statement announcing Sunday's deal, Obama said the crisis was unnecessary.

"This process has been messy," Obama said. "It's taken far too long. Nevertheless, ultimately, the leaders of both parties have found their way toward compromise. And I want to thank them for that."

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