With two weeks until the deadline for a decision on how to lift the federal government debt ceiling, Sen. Daniel Inouye says the consequences of stalled negotiations are already severe. 

“The debt ceiling will go up on Aug. 2, I’m convinced of that,” Inouye told DC808 this week. “But in the meantime, as we approach Aug. 2, damage is being done at this moment. I would assume those negotiators on the other side are well aware of the damage that’s being done. They have friends in the business community, and they should get concerned when 300 of the leading business people have signed in and said, ‘It’s getting bad.’”

The business leaders Inouye referred to are the hundreds who sent a letter urging a compromise on debt earlier this month. Read the full story about the Hawaii congressional delegation’s response to the debt standoff.