Washington • The biggest names in Utah Republican politics have rallied around a pledge to oppose any increase in the nation's ability to borrow money if it is not tied to big budget cuts, caps on spending and a constitutional amendment requiring a balanced budget.

That is, every big name except for one.

Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, says he supports the concept but he hasn't signed the so-called "cut, cap and balance pledge" and he isn't likely to anytime soon.

Bishop doesn't want to box himself into any position before he has a chance to see what a debt compromise would look like.

"I just want to find out what is really there before I commit to anything," he said Tuesday.

President Barack Obama continued to huddle with Republican and Democratic leaders Tuesday, but a deal does not appear to be imminent. They face an Aug. 2 deadline, after which Treasury officials have said they won't be able to meet the nation's financial obligations.

While Bishop may be keeping his options open, most of his Utah colleagues have drawn a sharp line in the sand. Sens. Orrin Hatch and Mike Lee have signed the pledge and touted it in cable TV interviews. Rep. Jason Chaffetz, Gov. Gary Herbert and congressional candidate Carl Wimmer, a state lawmaker, have also signed.

Almost all of the Republican presidential candidates have signed the pledge as well. The two holdouts are Rep. Michele Bachmann, who said the pledge doesn't go far enough, and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, who says he doesn't sign any pledges.

No Democrat has signed at this time.

Bishop said he backs a balanced budget amendment and hopes to vote for one soon, but he's not willing to say it is a requirement for a deal to raise the debt ceiling. He did say he wouldn't vote for a proposal that doesn't include some systemic change to the way Congress allocates money.

On taxes, Bishop said: "Tax increases? No. So-called loophole closing? There may be a couple very minor ones I could go with."

His party has largely opposed any tax changes to raise revenue, while Democrats have largely blocked any negotiation on changes to Social Security and Medicare.

Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, said with the nation burdened with a $14 trillion debt, every option should be discussed. "Various members of both political parties are not behaving well right now," he said Tuesday. "I think everything at least needs to be on the table."

Matheson, who says he's calling for a "structural shift," wants a deal that makes major changes in spending, taxes and the social programs.

"I think the debt limit vote represents a wonderful opportunity for leverage, to force some tough decisions that this place won't make," Matheson said referring to Congress. "I think we should go big."

Unlike most Democrats, Matheson thinks that should include a balanced budget amendment, which would force the federal government like the states to present a budget that doesn't rely on borrowing.

Matheson said he is not familiar with the details of the amendment co-sponsored by Hatch and Lee in the Senate or the proposal Republicans plan to bring up for a vote in the House as early as July 20. "I'm pretty sure I'm going to vote for it however it is structured. I think it's got to happen," he said. —

The cut, cap and balance pledge

R Signers of the pledge, created by congressional Republicans, say that unless these three conditions are met, they will oppose any increase in the debt limit.

Cut • Congress must agree to "substantial cuts in spending" leading to a reduced national deficit.

Cap • Congress must put in place spending caps that will limit future budgets.

Balance • Congress must pass a balanced budget amendment that requires a super-majority to raise taxes.

Who signed? • So far, four governors, 12 senators, 36 House members, all of whom are Republicans.

Source: cutcapbalancepledge.com