Peterson says 'fiscal cliff' bill pads deficit - KTTC Rochester, Austin, Mason City News, Weather and Sports

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- The sole Minnesota Democrat who voted against the bill to keep the U.S. from driving off the "fiscal cliff" says he voted no because it adds $4 trillion to the deficit.

Rep. Collin Peterson says Americans are willing to pay their bills, but Washington won't do what needs to be done.

Peterson is the top Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee, and had long opposed a short-term extension of the 2008 Farm Bill that became part of the deal. But he told The Associated Press on Wednesday he would have voted no even if the fiscal bill had included the farm provisions he sought.

Democrats Tim Walz, Betty McCollum and Keith Ellison voted yes, while Republicans Erik Paulsen, Michele Bachmann and Chip Cravaack voted no. Republican John Kline voted yes.