I question how damming a default would be to Congress, I mean, besides the obvious backlash that would come from allowing it to happen, eventually their paychecks would have to go along with other cuts the American Government would have to make due to running out of funds, hopefully it goes long before essential functions such as first responders, defense, and air traffic control. I mean, yes the 27 amendment to the constitution says "No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened."

One of the concerns I have is that it's clear that congress can simply choose to deny the government the ability to fund itself while still keeping themselves comfortable. They're so rich anyways that the world can fall apart around them and they wouldn't have any reason to care.