Daines says vote was about ending shutdown

HELENA (AP) — U.S. Rep. Steve Daines said his vote to raise the debt ceiling was about ending the government shutdown, and says he still hopes to repeal the health care overhaul.

The Montana lawmaker joined some other Republicans and all Democrats in voting for the deal on Wednesday. The measure funds the government through early next year.

The potential U.S. Senate candidate told Montana Public Radio on Thursday that the vote shows he can split with the Republican majority.

Daines, who originally said the opposition to raise the debt ceiling stemmed from opposition to the federal health care law, blamed Democrats for being unwilling to negotiate over the issue. He said calls to his office guided his decision.

"It's clear that Montanans wanted the government opened up, as we all did. They also want to be treated fairly under Obamacare," Daines said. "And I remain committed to both."

A Republican who wants to replace Daines in the House says he would have voted differently. State Sen. Matt Rosendale told supporters that Congress is just sidestepping tough choices.

"I am glad to see the government operational but it comes at a cost to our future," Rosendale wrote.

Daines said he is considering a run for the U.S. Senate, but said a decision is going to come later. Republicans expect Daines will seek the office being vacated by Democratic U.S. Sen. Max Baucus.

But Montana State University political scientist David Parker said another argument early next year about raising the debt ceiling would come at a bad time for Republicans. If they don't take a hard line, they could risk a primary challenge from the right. But shutting down government again could hurt them with moderate swing voters, he said.

"Democrats should privately be gleeful that the temporary solution will shine the uncomfortable gridlock glare once again on the GOP, making them have to make some very difficult choices in the months ahead that — either way — will have electoral consequences," Parker wrote on his blog.

After his vote, Daines was immediately hit by a Virginia-based conservative group called Americans for Limited Government. It said Daines "was nowhere to be found" when it finally mattered in the effort to end "Obamacare."