The Hill News

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) announced Tuesday evening that he opposes Speaker John Boehner's (R-Ohio) two-step proposal for raising the debt ceiling. 

Pawlenty said that Boehner's proposal didn't meet the "cut, cap and balance" criteria onto which he and a number of other GOP presidential contenders have latched.

{mosads}"I am for the plan that will cut spending, cap it, and pass a balanced budget amendment, but unfortunately this latest bill does not accomplish that," Pawlenty said in a statement.

Pawlenty joins his emerging rival, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.), in opposing the plan.

Other Republican presidential contenders have been more quiet.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's (R) spokeswoman said that he "applauds Boehner for standing firm against raising taxes when our nation can least afford them," but didn't go so far as to endorse the plan outright.

Former Utah Gov. Jon Hunstman (R) is t! he only contender to endorse the plan, which had to undergo last-minute rewrites on Tuesday evening to meet target levels of spending cuts.

The bill is supposed to hit the floor on Wednesday for a highly-anticipated vote. No Democrats have backed the plan, and a number of Republicans have threatened defection, meaning the Boehner plan could go down.

Republican presidential candidates have been reluctant to delve into the debt debate, partly due to the divisions in the GOP on Capitol Hill, and because of the pressure it might put on leadership.

For Pawlenty, this marks the second time he's opposed Boehner on a major deal. The former Minnesota governor rejected the deal the Speaker had struck with President Obama to avert a shutdown.