Unlike some of the major players in the dangerous game of political chicken playing out in Washington over the federal debt ceiling, U.S. Rep. Todd Platts has a consistent voting record on the issue.Well, pretty consistent.

As many have noted, some of the congressional leaders making such a big deal about increasing the debt ceiling have routinely voted to raise the roof in the past. It’s only now, as the two parties jockey for advantage in the coming elections, that they’ve suddenly found such ideological opposition to a practice they used to treat as standard operating procedure.

But Rep. Platts stopped voting to raise the debt ceiling back in 2007.

He’s voted no on the last six debt ceiling increases.

During his tenure in Congress, debt ceiling votes have come up 10 times, and he’s voted no to seven of them.

That’s a fairly consistent record of standing on the side of fiscal restraint. And it comes as no surprise from a congressman whose career has focused on reforming government spending.

Rep. Platts and many of his Republican colleagues are generally right that we must slow the flood of federal spending. It’s on an unsustainable trajectory that could saddle future generations with ruinous debt.

But there is a fair and reasonable balance to be struck here, and the uncompromising tenor of this debate has been disappointing and, frankly, terrifying. Has partisanship reached such a fever pitch that our so-called leaders are willing to risk our nation’s financial stability just so they can get top billing in a cheap political melodrama?

Where is the adult supervision in our Capitol? Where is the statesmanship, the willingness to compromise for the greater public good?

If our “leaders” foolishly drive this debate – and our economy – off a cliff, there won’t be any winners. There won’t be any Road Runners zipping through the political air. They’ll all be coyotes crashing to the ground with the rest of us, and they will pay a price.

We must find ways to cut spending – ways that don’t undermine the social safety net of poor and struggling middle-class citizens, especially as they age.

We must find ways to fairly increase revenue – at least in the short term. And the wealthy, the so-called “job creators” who haven’t been creating jobs but have instead parked their wealth on the sidelines of the economy, must act like caring, patriotic leaders by helping our nation through this crisis.

Rep. Platts says he’s open to compromise and is praying for statesmanship among his colleagues.

He hasn’t taken any ridiculous no-tax pledges – as most of his colleagues have done.

He said he’s willing and prepared to vote for a debt ceiling hike – despite his recent opposition to such measures.

We only hope such voices of reason come together, loudly and soon, to drown out the obstinate partisanship.