Bachmann adds health care to spending limit pledge

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann has signed a pledge opposing any increase in the U.S. debt limit, after adding her own stipulation on health care.

The GOP presidential hopeful signed the “cut, cap and balance” pledge Monday in Columbia after adding that Congress must cut off funding and repeal the health care overhaul passed last year. She says true economic reform requires its repeal.

Bachmann had avoided signing the pledge for several weeks, saying it didn’t go far enough.

The pledge signed by eight other presidential candidates says the federal government should not borrow more unless there are immediate spending cuts, enforceable spending caps, and Congress passes a constitutional amendment to balance the federal budget.

But Bachmann says she wouldn’t raise the debt ceiling even if the conditions were met.