Political Quotes

“I wish to say a few words about the debt ceiling that is rapidly approaching. But on this particular day, I cannot come to the floor and speak about anything without just making one, I guess I would say, note of personal privilege; that is, that today is a particularly sad day in my home State of Rhode Island because one of the great Rhode Islanders has passed away. Former Gov. Bruce Sundlun, whom I worked for for many years and formed a very devoted affection for has died peacefully at home with his family after one of the most accomplished and eventful lives in Rhode Island history. I know my senior Senator, Jack Reed, and I will be back on the floor at a later time to give Gov. Bruce Sundlun his proper due and recognition. But for all he has meant to me, for all he has meant to our State of Rhode Island, for all he has meant to the people whose lives have been made so much better or who have been protected from very bad outcomes by his courage and by his determination, I simply could not overlook that at this point. So more will follow on my dear friend, Bruce Sundlun. So to the matter at hand. Less than 2 weeks from now, our Nation is going to hit its statutory borrowing limit, and it may begin, for the first time in its history, defaulting on its obligations. Unless we act very soon, the Treasury of the United States of America, long the issuer of the safest and the most conservative securities in the world, will simply run out of money.…”