Illinois Senator Mark Kirk’s office released this brief statement following the Senate’s 81-18 vote to fund the government and avoid default:
Today Congress put country over party. I was proud to be a part of the bipartisan group led by Sens. Susan Collins and Joe Manchin, which laid the foundation for this agreement to reopen our government and protect America’s full faith and credit. As the debate moves forward in the coming weeks over spending and debt, it is my hope both parties will continue working together on a ‘big deal’ with spending cuts and reforms to entitlements and the tax code so that we can give our markets and the American people the stability they need and deserve.