In this file photo, Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., speaks during a news conference on the debt ceiling on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP)CLEVELAND, Tenn. -- U.S. Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., said today he "would relish" the chance to serve on the Congressional panel that must come up with a plan to cut another $2.1 trillion in debt over the next decade to avoid across the board spending cuts in defense and domestic spending under the debt plan adopted last week.
"I love complex, tough and controversial Issues," Corker told the Cleveland Business Roundtable. "It's up to the leader (Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ) but I would love to serve on that committee."
Corker said Congress needs to make more spending cuts and changes in entitlement programs to rein in government's size. But Corker said he is "fairly independent" and has worked as a problem solver as both a businessman and Chattanooga mayor in the past.
Corker said the ratings downgrade of U.S. Treasuries by Standard & Poor's over the weekend "was a real embarassment to our country."
"Hopefully, this will be a wake up call for us to act," Corker said.