Though he called the deal “not perfect,” U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Watersmeet, did not join the 71 U.S. House Republicans and 46 House Democrats who voted against the bipartisan legislation to raise the nation’s debt ceiling and trim spending.

We believe Bergman made the right call, and thank him for his yea vote, helping to pass the bill in the House by a 314-to-117 margin.

The deal, brokered primarily by Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Democratic President Joe Biden, will cut the nation’s deficits — the gap between federal income and federal spending — by $1.5 trillion over the next decade while suspending the debt limit — the amount of money the federal government can legally borrow to pay bills already approved by Congress — until Jan. 2, 2025.

The bill also includes other provisions, such as fast-tracking a controversial natural gas pipeline and adding new work requirements for some recipients of food stamps and welfare.

Neither side got everything they wanted. Biden wanted a clean debt ceiling bill, essentially raising the ceiling without any caveats. McCarthy wanted far more spending cuts.

But that’s what happens in a democracy ruled by a divided government (Republicans control the U.S. House while Democrats control the U.S. Senate and the White House). That’s called negotiating. That’s called governing.

A deal had to be reached when it did, because the government will run out of money to pay its bills by Monday, Treasury officials said, which could have hurled the global economy into a recession with catastrophic results including mass unemployment.

That was not an option, the deal’s negotiators and many members of Congress — including Bergman — said.

The deal is not perfect for either side, but it’s what could pass. So it had to pass, and we’re thankful Bergman saw that Wisdom.