*Government Shutdown
“I want to thank the gentleman for yielding and I want to thank my colleague Frank Wolf. There's no harder advocate, more effective advocate for federal employees than Frank Wolf. He and I have worked together for over 32 years on behalf of the interests of those people who work for the American people every day to make them safer, healthier, more informed.
MESSAGE FROM THE DEMOCRATIC WHIP
On Tuesday, House Republicans shut down the government for the first time in 17 years over their destructive obsession with repealing the Affordable Care Act. After four days of the GOP shutdown, House Republicans are continuing to play games; nothing they have considered on the Floor will re-open the government. Democrats have already compromised by agreeing to the Republican funding level.
A sampling of editorials from around the country shows House Republicans’ refusal to end the GOP shutdown isn’t playing out so well for them. Some highlights:
Buffalo News: Republicans, In Thrall To The Tea Party, Are Ignoring Their Duty To The Nation
An unusual addition to the list of House Republicans who recognize shutting down the government over the Affordable Care Act wasn’t a good idea - Representative Dennis Ross (R-FL). From Bloomberg:
In case you’re keeping track (and really, you should be) – we’re now up to seven times that House Republicans have voted against bringing the Senate’s clean government funding bill to the Floor so we can reopen the government. And that doesn’t count the numerous unanimous consent requests from Democrats to bring the Senate CR to the Floor, all of which have been denied. A recap of the 7 votes:
For Republicans who thought there wouldn’t be any impact when they shut down the government, think again. Can’t wait to hear how they justify shutting down the government over the Affordable Care Act to companies and manufacturers are preparing for delays and furloughs:
Just wanted to point out that, as Tropical Storm Karen makes its way toward the Gulf Coast, the bill on the Floor today (which leaves the government shut down) doesn’t address a wide range of agencies that respond to major storms, including:
“Look, I think that comprise can happen but the longer the Republicans have held hostage the Affordable Care Act the less time we’ve had to get there. Yes I think compromise is possible, but as [Representative] Charlie Dent, one of the Republicans to which you refer, said yesterday they don’t have to be in the same package.
“I thank the Ranking Member of the Rule Committees for yielding and thank Ms. Slaughter for the extraordinary leadership she has shown and the work she's been doing.
“The government of the people, by the people and for the people has been shut down by the Republican Party that refuses to put a bill on the Floor, that if passed would open government by 1 o’clock today.