Hank Johnson: “Americans need to know that Tea Party Republican obstructionism has brought us to the brink of yet another manufactured…”

“Americans need to know that Tea Party Republican obstructionism has brought us to the brink of yet another manufactured crisis. We have less than 2 days to pass critical highway and student loan bills that will keep Americans on the job and prevent student loan rates from doubling. Yet Tea Party Republicans are wasting time on frivolous amendments and on a purely meritless, political, and partisan vote to hold the Attorney General in contempt. Reports indicate that bipartisan Senate leadership has reached a deal on student loans and the highway bill as well, a deal which is now being blocked in the House by the Tea Party Republicans. This is not governing, ladies and gentlemen; it's Tea Party gridlock. Americans long for a Congress that is capable of honest debate and compromise in solving the important issues of the day. That's what the Founders and the Framers intended of us. It's been over 100 days since the Senate passed a bipartisan highway bill with 74 votes. While the House Tea Party Republicans quibble, they put 1.9 million jobs at risk. {time} 1520 Mr. Chairman, if the Tea Party Republicans prevent a deal on student loans, over 7.4 million students will see their interest rates double, costing students $6 billion. They brought us to the brink of a government shut down in February of 2011. Last summer they brought the country to the brink of default and caused the first downgrade in the history of the United States of our credit rating.…”