On the recordJuly 14, 2011
I stand here today having spent some time over the last few days thinking about this dispute regarding the debt limit, as we are hearing from our constituents across the country who are looking at Washington and asking: What is going on? What are you guys doing? It is a difficult process for people to understand. They elect us and send us here to serve our country and to solve problems. Yet they read in the newspapers all these startling statements--the President saying a few days ago he can't guarantee Social Security payments, others saying our bond rating might be at risk. And, of course, the reality of daily life is that, more than ever, Americans are finding it difficult to find a job, and the ones who do are working twice as hard and making less. So things have gotten tougher over the last couple of years, unfortunately, and people have a right to be upset with the direction we are heading. And that was one of the reasons I felt compelled to run for the Senate--to come up here and be part of trying to make a difference, be part of putting this country on a track that helps us to embrace all the things that make us exceptional and unique and continue to make us exceptional and unique. When I look at this dispute, I see two things that are very clear. No. 1, we can't continue to do what we are doing now, and anyone who argues we can is not being realistic and is doing a great disservice to the future of our country.…
