U.S. Constitution Article I - Section 8:
1: The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts
Because the 112th session of the U.S. House of Representatives failed to take timely action the United States of America lost it's AAA credit rating for the first time in history and threatened our nation with default.
This was an unconstitutional failure of our elected officials to perform their duties. Congress is bound by oath and is required to lay and collect taxes to pay the debts. The U.S. Constitution does not give them the option to fail to pay our debts or to any way act to knowingly harm our country.
They should be held responsible for causing fear and hardship to the economy and to American citizens. They should be censured.