As Default Looms, Key Ga. Leaders Criticize House Republican Strategy

“I think those who thought the shutdown was a good idea have now learned it’s not a good idea. In fact, it’s a dumb idea,” said Isakson.

He suggested Republicans have probably lost bargaining power as a result.

Isakson went on to stress the need for both parties to come together and strike a long-term deal.

“A very short-term debt ceiling increase is not a real good idea because you’re just pushing off the debate that we’re having now until right before Thanksgiving,” said Isakson.

Georgia Chamber of Commerce CEO Chris Clark agreed, saying businesses need more certainty.

“We have to stop this crisis budgeting,” said Clark.

Like Isakson, he believes the all-or-nothing approach to the health reform law was misguided.

“We’d love to see the law repealed. We’d love to see pieces of it repealed. But we also have to be realistic – it is the law and we don’t need to tie that up into these other issues that impact the economy,” said Clark.

Other statewide business groups warned that a failure to raise the debt ceiling would have significant consequences.

“Consumers just have tended to tune it out but when things get to this level where it’s a crises pitch, I think that does get into consumers’ minds and they hear that and it makes them pull back on spending,” said John Fleming of the Georgia Retail Association, which represents more than 4,000 Georgia businesses.

“Holiday shopping season is coming up for retailers. It could be 20-25 percent of their annual sales in this two month period and when consumers get nervous right before the biggest shopping season of the year, it’s definitely going to have an effect on retailers.”