Sen. Thune makes town hall tour stop in Vermillion - KTIV News 4 Sioux City IA: News, Weather and Sports

U.S. Senator John Thune of South Dakota says this country could be headed towards the same financial crisis Greece experienced.

It was part of his speech during a town hall in Vermillion, South Dakota. 

He's holding a series of these talks to meet with the public before he heads back to Washington.  At the forefront of Tuesday's discussion was the nation's debt ceiling. 

President Barack Obama has asked congress to raise it.  However, it's being met with criticism and some resistance.  Thune says he's not opposed to raising the debt limit, but says it must come with spending limits.

"To raise the debt ceiling we ought to do something about the debt, so we ought to have a debt ceiling increase accompanied by spending reductions, entitlement reforms, and that sort of thing," U.S. Senator John Thune, (R) South Dakota said.

He also commented on two other controversial topics: the nomination of former Senator Chuck Hagel for Secretary of Defense and gun control legislation.

Thune said he won't endorse or oppose the Hagel's nomination until he hears more about the Nebraska Vietnam veteran's positions on foreign policy and his plans.           

When it comes to new gun laws in the wake of the Sandy Hook school shooting, Thune says there should be more conversations about how to keep kids safer in schools without making it all about guns control laws.