The four House Republicans who voted against GOP leadership’s debt ceiling plan are speaking out about why they oppose the bill touted by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) as the United States faces the possibility of an unprecedented default on its obligations this summer.

Reps. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Tim Burchett (R-TN), and Ken Buck (R-CO) joined the vast majority of Democrats in opposing the legislation that would suspend the debt limit until it rises by $1.5 trillion or until March 31, 2024 — whichever comes first — in exchange for a host of spending cuts. The final tally showed 217 voted in favor and 215 voted against the “Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023.” Three members, including one Republican and two Democrats, did not vote.

Gaetz’s office put out a statement that said the four-term congressman has “consistently” voted against raising the debt ceiling and advocated in favor of tightened work requirements for social safety net programs.

“As our nation is careening into a $32 trillion debt, Congress shouldn’t be making final changes at 2 a.m. — the morning of the vote — to legislation raising the debt limit $1.5 trillion,” Gaetz said, alluding to concessions made in the last 24 hours.

“While I applaud the work of my Republican colleagues to demand better energy policy, regulatory reform, welfare-to-work requirements and less spending, a troubling fact remains. This plan will increase America’s debt by $16 trillion over the next ten years,” he added. “Gaslighting nearly $50 trillion in debt to America is something my conscious cannot abide at this time.”

Biggs, who unsuccessfully challenged McCarthy to become House speaker, faulted the legislation for not reducing the national debt and failing to be more “aggressive” in spending. He said federal spending should at the very least be returned to fiscal year 2019, pre-COVID pandemic levels — as opposed to 2022 levels outlined in the bill.

“Our national debt is a top national security threat. I have never voted to raise the debt ceiling in my time in Congress – even while President Trump was in the Oval Office – and didn’t today for the same reasons,” Biggs said in a statement. “We owe the American people and our future generations sound and responsible fiscal policy. Increasing the national debt to ‘only’ $47 trillion over ten years – an increase of over $14 trillion from today – is misguided and perpetuates Washington’s spending problem.”

Burchett touted how he has never voted to raise the debt limit, “no matter who was in charge” — a nod to a common line of attack from Democrats who criticize Republicans for attaching conditions to a debt ceiling increase when they voted in favor of a “clean” bill when former President Donald Trump was in office.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILY WIRE APP

“Our country is nearly $32 trillion in debt right now. That’s a debt neither we, nor our kids or grandkids can pay,” Burchett added in a statement. “We need to do whatever is necessary to get back to a balanced budget and meaningful debt reduction so this issue doesn’t keep coming back to haunt us.”

In his statement, Buck referenced how the Congressional Budget Office projected the proposal would slash federal deficits by $4.8 trillion over 10 years, saying that would still leave the United States with $53 trillion debt during that time period.

“Republicans must distinguish ourselves from Democrats by taking a stand against out-of-control spending and reversing course before it’s too late,” Buck said.

Although the bill passed the House, it faces long odds as it heads to the Senate, which is controlled by Democrats. The White House and its allies have been pushing for a “clean” debt ceiling bill separate from any spending cuts or any policy concessions.

During a press conference after the vote, McCarthy dared Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to put an alternative debt ceiling plan to a vote, noting the two chambers could go to conference if it passed, and the speaker challenged President Joe Biden to agree to talks. “Now, the president can no longer put this economy in jeopardy,” McCarthy said.

Officials in Nevada have reportedly concluded that UFC Hall of Fame fighter Stephan Bonnar died in December from an accidental fentanyl overdose. He was 45 years old.

MMA Fighting reported that the Clark County Coroner’s Office ruled Bonnar’s death accidental from “Fentanyl, Parafluorofentanyl and Mitragynine intoxication,” according to an email sent to the publication after it filed a public records request.

The report added that Bonnar had discussed his use of oxycodone in an interview with the publication back in 2021, saying that he took a legally prescribed regimen to battle pain from long-term injuries.

The coroner’s office did not provide any further information about Bonnar’s death due to HIPAA laws, the report said.

Parafluorofentanyl is a schedule I illicit fentanyl analog that is “likely similar” in potency to illicitly manufactured fentanyl, according to the CDC.

The third compound detected in Bonnar’s body, Mitragynine, has been linked to unintentional drug overdoses, according to the CDC. Also known as “Kratom,” the substance produces stimulant and opioid-like effects.

Fentanyl is at the heart of the drug overdose problem the U.S. is currently battling as Mexican drug cartels flood the market with the highly potent substance. Fentanyl is 100 times more powerful than morphine and 50 times more powerful than heroin, according to the DEA.

MMA Fighting noted that the death of Bellator fighter Jordan Young, who died in December 2021, was also ruled as “acute fentanyl and alprazolam intoxication.”

CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILY WIRE APP

Earlier this month, the Los Angeles County medical examiner revealed that famed rapper Coolio, who died at 59 years old late last September in Los Angeles, passed away from the effects of fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine.

The rapper, whose real name is Artis Leon Ivey Jr., died while visiting a friend after he went to use the bathroom and did not come back for a while, prompting the friend to go looking for him.

The New York Times reported that there were other “significant conditions” that contributed to his death, including asthma and cardiomyopathy. Coolio had battled drug addiction throughout his adult life, the report said.