Down a man, Saxby Chambliss and other members of the bipartisan "Gang of Six" are still working to bring the federal debt under control, the Georgia Republican said Tuesday.
The five remaining members "continue to meet," Chambliss said in an e-mail.
Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., dropped out of the group earlier in the day, telling the Associated Press that the chances of finding a bipartisan solution were "not good."
"He’s disappointed the group hasn’t been able to bridge the gap between what needs to happen and what senators will support," Coburn spokeswoman Becky Bernhardt told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
A stubborn partisan divide has prevented any movement on reducing the nation's debt in recent years, and the country is now months away from defaulting on those debts if Congress can't agree on conditions to increase the U.S. borrowing limit.
Coburn and Chambliss began meeting in January with Republican Sen. Mike Crapo of Idaho, and Democratic Sens. Richard Durbin of Illinois, Kent Conrad of North Dakota, and Mark Warner of Virginia, to cut $4 trillion out of the nation's now $14.3 trillion debt. Four of the six had served on President Obama's debt reduction commission, and their mission was to incorporate some of its recommendations into a plan that could pass both houses of Congress.
Coburn reportedly arrived Tuesday to the group's regular meeting spot, then left 10 minutes later while the remaining five continued their talks.
Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Government, said the Oklahoma Republican was an important part of the group's dynamic.
"Coburn, of all the members, has given the most articulate speeches as to why the debt is the biggest threat to our nation," she said.
Nevertheless, she said the other members may still be able to complete the the task at hand. "Five is still bipartisan," she said.
A Coburn spokesman said the Oklahoma Republican still hopes that a workable solution can be found.
"He still hopes the Senate will, on a bipartisan basis, pass a long-term deficit reduction package this year," Coburn communications director John Hart said via email. "He looks forward to working with anyone who is interested in putting forward a plan that is specific, balanced and comprehensive."
Bob Bixby, executive director of the non-partisan budget watch group the Concord Coalition, said Coburn's departure doesn't bode well for the group.
"It’s not a good thing for the dynamic of the group, obviously when someone with such a high profile leaves the group," Bixby said. "Maybe they get back together after the debt ceiling is raised … that would be OK. But if he’s just throwing his hands up, that would be disconcerting."
MacGuineas is hopeful the Gang -- be it five or six -- will succeed.
"For the good of the country, nobody benefits from them not coming up with a solution," she said.
About the Author
