Political Quotes

“the Senate is at its best when we tackle challenges together, Democrats, Republicans, and Independents working together to solve the big problems that confront this country. Today we face a monumental problem--our fiscal crisis. Consider the measure before us now; legislation to increase the statutory limit on public debt to over $14 trillion--a staggering number. Many of us are loathe to approve this measure to allow the Federal Government to add nearly $2 trillion to our national debt. Yet the alternative is also not acceptable; namely, that the United States default on its obligations. If we fail to increase the national debt limit, the United States would have to suspend payments for Active-Duty military salaries, for Social Security benefits, for veterans' compensation and pension payments, and for unemployment benefit and Medicare payments to States. Still, we should not approve this dramatic expansion of public debt without taking steps here and now to reverse course and get control over this economic crisis. We can do that in a bipartisan manner by approving the Conrad-Gregg amendment.”