John Ensign: “I came to the floor a little more than a month ago to discuss perhaps one of the most critical issues facing our great…”

“I came to the floor a little more than a month ago to discuss perhaps one of the most critical issues facing our great country: the skyrocketing national debt. I had hoped that once Democrats went home and heard the concerns of their constituents, they would return to Washington with a new perspective. Believe me, I heard from Nevadans in the townhall meetings I held this month that increased spending and more debt is simply not acceptable. Voters in Massachusetts echoed those same feelings last week when they voted to put a stop to a bloated health care bill and protest out-of-control spending. I don't see how the message can be any clearer. The debt we are accumulating is unsustainable; it will bankrupt this Nation and force future generations to suffer for our fiscal irresponsibility. Based on the votes today on the Senate floor, it appears that Democrats have decided to turn a deaf ear to the concerns of American voters. We have voted to raise the debt limit once again to make room for more spending. Ironically, the debt limit was put into place to provide Congress with constitutional control of the American purse strings. The debt limit was designed as a form of fiscal accountability to be used by the President and Congress to ensure that the Federal Government does not spend or borrow more than it collects in revenue. I, along with many Americans, have tried to impose this simple yet vital rule to our children. Don't spend more than you can afford.…”