Ellington

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — All three Republicans in Mississippi's House delegation voted against legislation to avoid the fiscal cliff, while the state's only Democrat representative voted for it.

Republican U.S. Reps. Gregg Harper, Alan Nunnelee and Steven Palazzo cast no votes, while Democrat Bennie Thompson voted for the legislation that passed 257-167 Tuesday.

Palazzo says the bill added almost $4 trillion to the deficit, contained minimal spending cuts and passed without the support of many House Republicans. Nunnelee says out-of-control spending is the reason the country is $16 trillion in debt and the deal adds to the problem.

The measure passed the Senate 89-8 earlier Tuesday, with Republican Sens. Thad Cochran and Roger Wicker voting yes.