This New York Times story is welcome news. Led by Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) and Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), a small group of Senators from both parties is working together on a push for serious solutions to the fiscal crisis. An NPR story on the same subject has labeled this group of Senators the "Gang of Six." The other members of this "Gang" are Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Senator Kent Conrad (D-ND), Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK), and Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID).
To quote Senator Warner: "I think everybody recognizes that we've got to get our deficit under control, and that means you've got to broaden the debate to where the money's at."
These senators should be commended for what they are doing, especially for the fact that they are publicly saying that the fiscal crisis can only be solved if we restructure Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, as well as cut defense spending. Too many political leaders in this country simply ignore the fiscal crisis altogether, or claim that it can be solved by rather small cuts to discretionary spending programs. Simply by telling the truth, the Gang of Six is doing a great public service.
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