GOP Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina said it was just “common sense” to give the states some more flexibility on existing money.

But there’s an open debate among GOP senators about whether to give state and local governments more money, with a number of Republicans sympathetic to the sharp revenue losses experienced by states and cities as others want to hold the line amid the growing deficit concerns.

“No conclusions reached,” said Sen. Mike Braun, an Indiana Republican. “Just a lively discussion.”

“People were pretty fired up on both sides of that,” said another GOP senator, speaking on the condition of anonymity.