Villaraigosa Blasts Lawmakers For National Debt Crisis On 'Face The Nation'

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa appeared on the Sunday morning talk show "Face The Nation", where he suggested lawmakers from both parties should submit their resignations if they put the U.S. in a situation where the federal government defaults on its debts.

"I think Washington has its head in the sand," Villaraigosa told moderator Bob Schieffer. "We're dithering with default, (and are) on the verge, frankly, of jeopardizing the full faith and credit of the United States of America."

Speaking as a featured guest on CBS' "Face The Nation," the two-term Los Angeles Democrat blamed members of both parties for failing to compromise on the contentious issue of raising the federal debt limit.

Republicans and the White House are locked in a standoff over the credit issue, which could put the U.S. in default if it is not solved by early August.

"Democrats won't address entitlements -- Medicare and Social Security -- and Republicans don't want to talk about revenues or defense spending, and the fact is we need to do both," he said.

Villaraigosa also went on to defend his budget cuts, saying it was the job of city leaders to keep finances in order -- even if that means making small sacrifices.

The appearance marked the second Sunday in two weeks in which Villaraigosa has popped up on a morning network political panel show to attack partisan gridlock in Washington.

(©2011 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)