Senator calls Congress ‘dysfunctional’ on budget

Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) said Wednesday that he has never been anywhere that worked less well when trying to reduce spending than the U.S. Congress.

"I have never been in a place that is more dysfunctional," said Corker. "No matter what Americans think about the way we handle the money, I can assure them it's worse."

"This is the No. 1 issue for Americans," Corker continued, referring to the national debt. "It threatens our national security."

Senate Republicans were engaged in a colloquy on the Senate floor Wednesday morning in which they praised House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan's (R-Wis.) proposed 2012 budget that would cut $5.8 trillion in spending over 10 years and transform Medicare in order to balance the budget by 2040 without raising taxes.

GOP lawmakers also spent time criticizing a speech President Obama is expected to deliver at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday regarding deficit reduction

"I truly believe the president should talk less about visions and dreams for the future and give us real numbers," said Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas) who was leading the floor discussion.