Senator Cruz Would Have Voted 'No' On Fiscal Cliff Deal

Republican Ted Cruz today placed his hand on his father’s Bible  as he became Texas’ first Hispanic senator during Congress’s swearing-in ceremony.

Cruz then told reporters if he’d been in the U.S. Senate two days ago, he would have voted against the fiscal cliff  legislation.

“It’s a lousy deal,” said Cruz, a second-generation Cuban American and Texas' former solicitor general. 

“The deal included $620 billion in higher taxes that is inevitably going to kill jobs, hurt small businesses and hurt the lives of ordinary Americans,” he said.”

Texas senators John Cornyn and Kay Bailey Hutchison, who Cruz is replacing, voted for the fiscal cliff legislation.

Among other newly elected Texans taking the congressional oath of office Thursday were Rep. Marc Veasey, the Forth Worth Democrat who will represent a  new district, and Rep. Roger Williams, a Weatherford Republican.