Duffy: No problem raising debt ceiling if Dems ‘cut up the credit card’

Rep. Sean Duffy (R-Wis.) predicted Congress would have no problem raising the debt ceiling as long as Democrats are willing to “cut up the credit card” and change the nation’s fiscal course.

"In the House we'll have a debate that says if we're willing to basically cut up the credit card, reduce spending in the size and scope of government, I don't think there will be much of a problem to raise the debt ceiling,” Duffy said this week in an interview with WQOW-TV, an ABC affiliate in Eau Claire, Wis.

But, he added, “If we continue on the same fiscal course we'll be hard pressed to get a bill out of the House.”

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner has warned that not raising the debt ceiling would be "catastrophic" for the U.S. economy; White House spokesman Jay Carney said it would “Armageddon-like.” If the $14.3 trillion borrowing limit is not raised, the United States could be at risk of defaulting on its debt.

Regardless of the outcome, Duffy predicted that "a great debate” on the debt ceiling would take place in the coming months.

Duffy is one of 25 House Republicans being targeted by Democrats in their quest to regain a House majority in the 2012 elections.

“Tell Duffy to keep his hands off our Medicare,” says one ad targeting the freshman congressman. The ad was referring to Duffy’s vote in favor of the GOP’s 2012 budget, crafted by fellow Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan.