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One of the most debated topics along the campaign trail and in Washington the past week has been the federal debt limit.

Former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, who will hold a town hall meeting in Pella next week, says while he doesn’t want to see the credit of the United States threatened, he feels, as do most Republicans, that any increase in the limit must come with large cuts in spending.

He says this is an opportunity to set spending at sustainable levels. The debt limit is the Congressionally authorized amount of debt the US can carry.

The current limit is set to expire August 2nd.