We have a winner. Rep. John Fleming (R-LA) is now on the record both dismissing default as overblown and touting the prospect of default as crucial leverage for the House to force the Senate to make concessions.
Nothing should surprise me with these folks. But apparently House Republicans are considering passing their bill (which is a nonstarter in the Senate and White House) and simply leaving town.
Meanwhile, Rep. John Fleming (R-LA) discusses plan to push House offer as close as possible to default deadline to maximize leverage.
With their plan dissolving this may become a moot point, but I mentioned earlier how the House GOP leadership plan unveiled this morning included a provision that would bar the Treasury Department from taking extraordinary measures to avert default whenever we approach the debt ceiling again the next time.
Enough of this skating around default — we want to feel the pain of imminent default quicker next time!
Here’s the rationale for that provision, according to the GOP’s outline of its plan: