Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) blasted Republicans on Thursday night for planning to use the federal debt ceiling as leverage in the ongoing battle over government spending.

He said Republicans saw the debt ceiling as “a device to extract concessions they would otherwise never be able to accomplish.”

“That is why it is legislative terrorism,” Grayson continued. “They are using the debt ceiling as a means to cut Social Security benefits, cut Medicare benefits, cut unemployment insurance, cut anything of any use to any ordinary human being in this country simply because they want more money for tax cuts for the rich.”

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Republicans previously refused to raise the federal debt ceiling in 2011 unless Democrats agreed to significant budget cuts. The battle over the debt ceiling resulted in the United States having its credit rating downgraded and ultimately lead to the so-called fiscal cliff crisis.

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