On the recordJuly 21, 2011
as we spend the day debating the Republican plan to cut, cap, and kill Medicare, a plan that is dead on arrival in the Senate, it has become obvious what the true question of the day is. That question is, Will we as a nation allow ourselves to be driven into default and financial calamity by a small group of extreme rightwing ideologues in the House GOP? It has become increasingly clear that this group of ideologues has grabbed the reins and is refusing to let go, no matter who tries to pry their fingers off. It is clear that this uncompromising group of narrow ideological Congressmen is the one thing standing in the way of raising the debt ceiling so our Nation does not default. It is the group that alone wants to drive the car off the cliff. We are now 11 days from defaulting on our debt, and for the last few months this small group, far outside the mainstream, has contributed nothing to efforts to reach a compromise. The House GOP has rejected every form of compromise, from the Simpson-Bowles plan, to the President's $4 trillion grand bargain, to the McConnell fallback plan, to, as of yesterday, the Gang of 6 framework. Instead, they have offered dangerous schemes such as the cut, cap, and kill Medicare plan that passed the House yesterday. Their ``plan'' would wreak havoc on our country's seniors and the middle class. It is not a serious proposal, it will never pass this body, and it is a waste of time.…
