Gang of Six (U.S. Political information)

In the politics of the United States, the Gang of Six is either of two bipartisan groups of six Senators, both consisting of three Democrats and three Republicans. One group, active in 2009, focused on health care reform in the United States during the 111th United States Congress. A different group, currently active as of 2011, is following up the compromise on the United States public debt from the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform.
Senator Kent Conrad of North Dakota participated in both groups.

Top administration and congressional officials continued focusing on a new bipartisan $3.7 trillion debt reduction plan Wednesday to avoid a potentially catastrophic default next month on the federal government's financial obligations. President Obama offered strong praise for the initiative calling it "broadly consistent" with his own approach to the current debt ceiling crisis. It mixes tax changes, entitlement reforms and spending reductions.

Senate Democratic leaders, however, expressed skepticism that they will be able to increase the debt limit and pass the plan (drafted by members of the chamber's so-called "Gang of Six") by the August 2 deadline. If Congress fails to raise the current $14.3 trillion debt ceiling by that date, Americans could face rising interest rates, a declining dollar and increasingly jittery financial markets, among other problems.n