Wes Hickman (202) 224-5972 or Kevin Bishop (

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today made this statement after the vote in the U.S. House of Representatives against the financial rescue plan.  He said:

 

“I have never been more disappointed in the Congress than I am today.  I hope every member of the House of Representatives -- Republican and Democrat -- who voted against this legislation will work in the next twenty-four hours to improve the bill.  Now is the time to put the national interest above the self interest.

 

“Speaker Pelosi’s partisan comments before the vote obviously did not help matters.  Now is not the time for extreme partisanship but time for our nation to pull together for the common good.

 

“If we do not address this issue, our nation may be headed toward a major financial collapse.  For the common good, we must find a solution to this problem.  Without the ability to borrow money to build a business, buy a home, or go to school, our country will be brought to its financial knees.

 

“Today’s actions will ripple throughout our economy.  More people will lose their homes.  Businesses may be forced to shut their doors.  Life savings and retirement accounts will take a severe hit. I fear those who voted against this legislation have put our nation’s economy at risk.

 

"Democratic and Republican leaders must find a way to bring more votes on board to this bipartisan bill.  I will continue to do my part in this effort as I realize the cost of congressional inaction will be steep.”

 

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