BROOKINGS, S.D.(WNAX)- Many republicans in the US House want to use the impending debt ceiling deadline as a lever to push for cuts in the federal budget.

South Dakota State University economics professor Dr Joe Santos says any misstep could cause an economic crisis.

Santos says the debt ceiling is not really directly connected to the ongoing federal budget.

The US Treasury Department has warned that the country has hit the maximum debt ceiling of thirty one point four trillion dollars and it has to be lifted for the government to continue to pay its bills.