BEDFORD — Before a crowd that did not shy away from the political fracas of a Presidential election year, U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., said Saturday that bipartisanship in Congress is sorely needed to fix the federal debt and deficit, which he called “the biggest issue our nation faces.”

At a town hall meeting at Liberty Station restaurant, Warner spoke to about 50 people on the economy and “the good, the bad and the ugly” of Washington politics. When he said that 90 percent of people view the federal government as a dysfunctional institution, some applauded.

Warner said the nation is currently sitting on $16 trillion in debt. If those eating in the crowd wanted indigestion, he added, each day that passes without Congress acting to fix it results in $4 billion more.

“We can’t keep kicking the can down the road,” Warner said. “I say this as a Democrat, but anybody who thinks it is going to be a Democrat-only solution or Republican-only solution is just plain wacky … we’ve got to stop being Democrats and Republicans and start being Americans first.”

The problem will not be fixed overnight, he said, or “just by taxing rich people a little bit more.” He said it would take “some real changes” in government spending. He also believes more revenues are needed.

Warner said he is working to focus on generating more jobs in a struggling economy.

“We all hope and wish the economy would be at a better spot than it is,” he said.

He voted in favor of advancing the Bring Jobs Home Act, a bill that failed last week to move forward for debate in the Senate. It would give tax breaks to companies that “insource” jobs in America, and do away with tax deductions that move jobs to other countries.

Virginia is a battleground state in the upcoming election. Warner told the group that neither President Obama nor President Bush could be solely blamed for the federal debt and deficit issues.

“Nobody’s got clean hands,” he said.

At times Saturday, he found himself defending his positions as some in the crowd criticized President Obama, the controversial Affordable Health Care Act, also known as “Obamacare,” and the federal stimulus bill of 2009 that poured billions into strengthening the economy.

Warner, who voted for both, said the health care bill was not perfect but he believes it will “shake up” the health care system which, if left unchecked, would bankrupt the country. He also said he believed the economy would be in worse shape if the stimulus bill not passed.

Bedford City Manager Charles Kolakowski thanked Warner for his appearance and addressing tough questions.

On another topic, Kolakowski said the city and Bedford County need access to natural gas.

“Our industries really suffer, we suffer attracting industries and retaining industries here to provide jobs,” he said.

Warner said he appreciated the “spirit” of the meeting and that folks can agree to disagree on issues. One person in the audience asked Warner if he thought Congress could work together or if Americans are “doomed.”

Warner responded that a “trust level” needs to be built and spoke of his tenure as a former Virginia governor and working with a Republican majority of state lawmakers.

“I am working my tail off to find common ground,” he said.

However, a “fiscal cliff” looms if the parties don’t come together to address the debt issue, he said.

“The American people don’t trust either party enough to give them a blank check.”