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Pawlenty in Fla.: debt ceiling deal disappointing

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Associated Press

TAMPA, Fla. - Republican presidential hopeful Tim Pawlenty says the debt ceiling increase President Barack Obama signed into law is like taking an aspirin to treat a serious illness.

Pawlenty told supporters in a packed coffee shop Tuesday that he was disappointed in the deal because lawmakers didn't use the opportunity to further address the country's spending problem.

The former Minnesota governor said, "They didn't fix the problem, they just popped a fiscal aspirin and pretended the problem's gonna go away."

Pawlenty said cutting the defense budget is a misguided priority and criticized the last minute deal because a future Congress can overturn it.

Pawlenty also said he plans to visit Florida a lot. The state is trying to position itself to be the fifth to hold a primary or caucuses. He also held private fundraisers and political meetings while in Florida.