House Republicans Pretty Much Admit They Are Taking Debt Limit ‘Hostage’

In the quiet, marbled halls of the U.S. Capitol, speaking too frankly is frowned upon by most lawmakers.

And then there’s Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), the firebrand whom critics accused Tuesday of saying the silent part out loud by talking about the stalled-but-continuing federal debt limit talks as akin to a hostage negotiation.

Referring to the bill on the debt limit and spending cuts that passed the House with only Republican votes, Gaetz said: “I think my conservative colleagues for the most part support Limit, Save, Grow & they don’t feel like we should negotiate with our hostage,” a year later after reflecting on what the GOP had won.

“What we did learn is this — it’s a hostage that’s worth ransoming,” he told NBC News.