Pete Domenici: “the Senate can be assured that I want to expedite the vote on this issue as much as anyone else. So I will be very…”

“the Senate can be assured that I want to expedite the vote on this issue as much as anyone else. So I will be very brief. There are some people in the country that are concerned about the full faith and credit that has been such an advantageous thing for our Treasury bills and the financing of our debt. Our Treasury bills have been almost the greatest currency in the world. They are the money market in many parts of the world. Certainly, it does not behoove the Senate or the U.S. House, Democrat or Republican, to do anything to tarnish that. But I believe today the issue before us is: Shall we open the Government, pay our workers, and get on with the ordinary daily activities of the Government and, at the same time, assure the marketplace and those who are concerned that there is no intention on the part of those on this side of the aisle that are in a position during the next 4 or 5 weeks to get that debt limit extended, and that there is no intention on our part that we let the Treasury bills of the United States go into default? I stand before the Senate because some of those people that are influenced by our actions are, from time to time, interested in my opinion and my views. Frankly, I am saying tonight that I think we ought not cause the Government of the United States to be closed down even for 24 hours while we add an amendment that is not necessary tonight.”