Bayh faults both sides of Congress

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 (UPI) -- Retiring U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh says it could take another deep crisis for both parties of Congress to decide to work together.

"My most likely scenario for that would be an economic crisis, even more than the one we've had, a run on the dollar because of our deficits, a tremendous spike in interest rates," Bayh, D-Ind., said Sunday. "It shouldn't come to that. It need not come to that."

Bayh, a former Indiana governor, announced last week he would not seek re-election to the U.S. Senate this year because he was tired of congressional gridlock.

Speaking on CNN's "State of the Union," Bayh faulted Republicans for using tactical political advantages, such as the filibuster, and blamed Democrats for being too driven by ideology.

Moderate and independent voters need to push back against both parties and say, "We're not going to reward strident partisanship or just brain dead ideology," Bahy said.

Bayh said Thursday's televised healthcare meeting at the White House would afford the opportunity for both sides to behave reasonably and to look for areas of agreement and move on.