John Ensign: “What would a downgrade from AAA to AA of the United States credit rating do to the interest rates and do to your budget…”

to wrap up this debate, let me address, first of all, the whole idea that changing this treaty in any way kills the treaty. Under the Constitution, certainly it is the President's role, the administration's role, to negotiate the treaties…

The important thing is getting some of these issues out on the table.

Previously, he announced he wouldn't seek re-election in 2012 following revelations he had an affair with an aide's wife.

I am going to reluctantly support H.R. 1. It reduces government spending by about $61 billion below last year's levels. The reason I am reluctantly supporting it is because I don't think it goes far enough. We have heard the other side…