On the recordSeptember 13, 2010
I hope the weeks between now and Columbus Day will be productive weeks. There really is no reason they should not be. The issues we will be dealing with are not partisan or ideological. They have the support of Democratic, Republican, and Independent Senators. They have the support of Democratic, Republican, and Independent constituents. All of us have a common obligation and a shared interest in doing all we can to get our economy moving again. If we were to adopt a slogan to guide us in the coming weeks, I would nominate something a colleague of ours said just a few days ago. The senior Senator from Ohio, Mr. George Voinovich, a Republican, was talking last week about the standoffs that have stalled the Senate-- gridlock that has kept us in recent months from realizing our ability and fulfilling our responsibility to help small businesses. He said: We don't have time for messaging. We don't have time anymore. This country is really hurting. Senator Voinovich is right.
