Debt-Limit Deal Passes Without Lee's Vote

Rep. Barbara Lee, whose district includes Piedmont, was among the 50 percent of Democratic members of Congress who voted against the compromise debt-limit bill passed by the House of Representatives Monday, according to the roll call released by the Associated Press.

The bill passed with 95 Democrats and 174 Republicans voting "yes," while 95 Democrats and 66 Republicans voted "no." The Senate voted 74-26 to approve similar legislation Tuesday and President Obama signed it into law shortly thereafter.

Lee made a statement Sunday night voicing her opposition to the deal.

"Of course, I don’t want to see our nation default, but after having reviewed this deal in detail ... I am simply unable to support it," Lee said.

The congresswoman characterized the agreement to raise the debt ceiling, which comes with trillions in spending cuts, as "the wrong approach." She alluded to her support for continued economic stimulus, maintenance of Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, and taxes on the rich and big corporations as part of a federal deficit solution.