Pete Domenici: “While I supported two previous ones, I think the important one to many, many Americans is the last one which would say…”

“While I supported two previous ones, I think the important one to many, many Americans is the last one which would say through the 12th day of January the U.S. Government goes back to work. The people that work for the Government would go back to work and would be paid. I think it is time we do this. Obviously, I understand the House has some different problems than we have. I think it is right for the U.S. Senate under your leadership to proceed this evening to send this measure to the U.S. House for their consideration. I want to suggest to the Senate that in my home State where, obviously, we have a considerable number of Federal employees, even those who are not Federal employees are very perplexed and concerned about something they do not understand. I think they make a great point. That is, Federal employees are furloughed but there is a commitment that when they come back to work we will pay them for the time they did not spend working. More constituents are calling me asking, what kind of business is that? We have people who are being paid for not working, and then you have Federal employees who have been deemed necessary, they are on the job and they are being paid but they must work. Frankly, most Federal employees are saying they would like to work for their pay.”