Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, this week rejected the argument that Republicans no longer care about the debt, and said the party will have time later to find some bipartisan solution to rising budget deficits and a total national debt that is quickly approaching $21 trillion.

Conservatives last week were furious at House and Senate leaders for supporting a budget deal that will see federal spending increase by nearly $300 billion over the next two years. The outlines of that budget deal passed the House and Senate, along with language to suspend the debt ceiling for a year and provide billions in new, unpaid-for disaster aid.