By Isaac Wright / Senior Staff Writer -

With the U.S. debt ceiling debate in Washington concluded, U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess has begun a series of town hall meetings to gauge his constituents’ feelings on the budget resolution Congress passed last week.

Burgess’ first gathering happened Wednesday in the auditorium of Denton High School, where he spoke to about 600 Denton County residents.

The representative started the event by explaining why he voted in favor of raising the U.S. debt limit by $2.1 trillion dollars. Burgess said he knew the risk he took by casting such a vote.

“One of the things that occurred to me before the vote that was held last Friday was that my congressional career has come and gone,” Burgess said. “For good or for ill, I could not consciously say ‘I’m going to make a vote that was entirely political and put my country at risk.”

Burgess said the increase in the debt limit and the $2.4 trillion in government spending in last week’s budget resolution has created the need for a balanced budget amendment to be included in the U.S. Constitution. The proposal drew applause and cheers from the Denton crowd.

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