Although nearly 60 percent of Republicans in the U.S. Senate supported the deficit- and debt-reduction deal on Tuesday, there was one glaring splinter in its caucus. Of the 13 Republican Senators that began their terms this year, nine voted against the proposal and just four supported it (69 percent opposition). Meanwhile, of the 34 Republicans who were in office prior to 2011, 24 voted for its passage and just 10 voted against it (71 percent support). Newly elected (or appointed) GOP Senators voting against the measure were Dean Heller (Nevada), Kelly Ayotte (NH), Mike Lee (UT), Rand Paul (KY), Ron Johnson (WI), Marco Rubio (FL), Pat Toomey (PA), Jerry Moran (KS), and Dan Coats (IN), who also logged in 10 years of Senate experience from 1989 to 1998. Voting for the bill were John Hoeven (ND), John Boozman (AR), Rob Portman (OH), and Roy Blunt (MO). Mark Kirk (IL) also voted for the bill, but was sworn into office in last November.

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