Cravaack meetings scheduled -- one in Grand Portage

Republican Rep. Chip Cravaack will face voters directly in public meetings next week for the first time since voting against increasing the debt limit.

The first-term representative's office announced the meetings in Deer River on Tuesday and Grand Portage on Wednesday.
Cravaack was one of 66 Republicans to vote against the compromise deficit-reduction legislation that increased the nation's borrowing authority.

He said the proposal that became law this week didn't cut spending enough. He joined Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann from the state's 6th District in opposing the bill during a Monday vote.

Cravaack says he looks forward to hearing from constituents in Minnesota's 8th District on the debt issue.