VALLEY CITY, N.D. (AP) - Republicans competing for North Dakota's U.S. House seat are divided on whether it was a good idea for Congress to raise the federal debt ceiling last summer.

West Fargo state Rep. Kim Koppelman, Fargo state Rep. Bette Grande and Public Service Commissioner Brian Kalk say they wouldn't have supported the increase. They say the federal debt is already too high.

Public Service Commissioner Kevin Cramer and former state Commerce Department director Shane Goettle say refusing to raise the ceiling would have been too big of an economic risk. Goettle says the increase headed off a possible default on U.S. Treasury debt.

The five Republicans debated Wednesday night at Valley City State University.

The vote by Congress last August raised the debt ceiling to $16.7 trillion.