Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) lashed out at Tea Party Republicans on Tuesday, saying they have pushed a knife into the backs of middle-class families by refusing to raise the debt ceiling.

Democratic Senator Chris Murphy. (Image Source: C-Span screenshot)

“There was so much economic hurt that had already piled up…people just didn’t have any wiggle room, when the Tea Party decided to stick a knife into the backs of hard-working American families,” Murphy said, according to The Hill Floor Action Blog.

“We’re here because Tea Party Republicans in the House see this misery as a bargaining chip,” the Democratic senator reportedly added.

The comments reportedly came during a speech on the Senate floor.

The federal government has now been shutdown for over two weeks. A potential default now looms over the heads of lawmakers if they can't come to an agreement to raise the debt ceiling ahead of an October 17 deadline.

(H/T: The Hill)

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