Byron Dorgan: “I admire the fact that he will not back down. There are big economic interests out there who want to say to the Senator…”

“I admire the fact that he will not back down. There are big economic interests out there who want to say to the Senator from Iowa, ``Back away from this, back down or else.'' The Senator from Iowa has one of those stubborn streaks that says if something is right and it ought to be done, he is going to make sure it is done. I say to him I appreciate the fact he stood strong and said, ``We demand an opportunity to debate on the floor of this Senate,'' something that is as important to every family and to our economy as this subject is. A century and a half ago, from barbershops to barrooms in this country, people would talk about interest rate policy and monetary policy. It was enormously important. In fact, if you study the two centuries of economic or financial history of this country, you find that there has always been a constant wrestling match between those who produce and those who finance production. Sometimes you go for a decade or two and the financiers have the upper hand. Then it switches and the producers have the upper hand. But always this tension and this wrestling back and forth for economic power.”