John Ensign: “We have to make such difficult--these are going to be painful--politically painful choices to make.”

You need to get out there in the real world and talk to folks.

What would a downgrade from AAA to AA of the United States credit rating do to the interest rates and do to your budget projections?

This is a very important hearing today and I want to thank all of our witnesses who have taken the time out of their schedules to testify.

I rise today to deliver a very difficult speech. This will be my farewell speech to the Senate. Serving as Nevada's 24th Senator has truly been the greatest professional privilege of my life. Growing up with a single mom in very humble…