Thus far in her congressional career, our U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert has been more of an annoyance than a threat, showboating about MAGA hot-button issues of “critical importance” to the 3rd Congressional District, such as whether urination in public is prohibited in Washington, D.C. But the threat level is changing.

The federal government is within days of hitting the debt limit. Because the feckless Kevin McCarthy, in his unbridled quest to become speaker of the house, went ahead and cut a backroom deal with Boebert and the Freedom Caucus, these ultra right-wing members have been potentially granted an outsized influence in the debate. Now, they say that Senate needs to pass their bill “as-is” with no changes. Otherwise, no debt limit increase. That isn’t a negotiation. It’s economic terrorism.

Remember that Congress has already voted to support the programs that Boebert loathes. It’s instructive that the GOP only finds religion on the debt ceiling when there is a Democrat in the White House. Also, while the GOP rails against “debt,” they won’t identify a single tax loophole that could be closed. That’s “off the table.”

The Freedom Caucus could never get their ideas passed by normal procedures. But by holding a gun to the head of the American economy, they think they can force radical views upon the nation. If they don’t get their way, they’ll pull the trigger, vote against increasing the limit and put the federal government into default. The consequences of this manufactured crisis could be catastrophic.

Lawrence Gross

Durango