*Government Shutdown
Republicans continue to surprise us with their dedication to risking a government shutdown and holding our economy hostage, rather than compromising and getting something done.
Here’s their plan for government funding, described by POLITICO – and why it won’t work:
“I'm sure that it will renew the discussions about access to weapons that can be used to kill a lot of people quickly. … what we have seen in so many of these instances are that the perpetrators have given previous indication of instability, even inclinations to use weapons, and to talk about violence. So there was no doubt this was somebody who had a record of instability and certainly should have been, I think, subject to closer scrutiny, particularly in access to a facility such as the Navy Yard, or any facility that has large numbers of people in it, that has security concerns in the United States.”
MESSAGE FROM THE DEMOCRATIC WHIP
Over the last few weeks, America has been faced with devastating stories and images from Syria, where the Assad regime used chemical weapons against his own people, including women and children. I stand in support of President Obama’s call to authorize limited but decisive military action, and also support his efforts to achieve a diplomatic solution that provides confidence to the international community that S
“As you saw we had the 41st vote on the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, Obamacare, today. Notwithstanding that, we didn't do anything else. That bill won't have any future. And we did not do what we need to do, and that is ensure that the government doesn't shut down on October 1st.
"Congress has a responsibility to keep our government running and serving the American people.
If the United States fails to pay the bills it has incurred, it ‘would be a financial disaster not only for our country, but for the world economy.’ Those are the words of Speaker Boehner in January...
I hope the Speaker can come forward and say, we're ready to move forward and keep the government open and we can move on. The fact of the matter is it's been self-evident for some period of time now that this issue was not over dollars. We made substantial cuts in spending. We know we need to make cuts. We need to effect efficiencies and bring this deficit under control. The fact is this has not been about dollars. It's about social policy. It's been about, in particular, as you pointed out, women's health issues.
Democrats have offered on the House Floor five times a clean continuing resolution to keep the government open as negotiations on a full year continuing resolution continue. So far, even though Democrats have gone 70 percent of the way to Republicans’ position, Republicans refuse to compromise over their divisive social agenda. As a result, Republicans are risking a shutdown that will harm the economy and negatively impact Americans.
Isn't it a shame, I tell my friend who just spoke, that his colleagues objected to unanimous consent request yesterday which would have taken care of the problem he raises today? There's not a person on this Floor that doesn't want to make sure that our men and women in harm's way and in uniform ready to be put in harm's way are paid on time. But we're playing a political game here—a game of got you, a game of my way or the highway—not a game of coming together from all over the country and trying to make laws for our country that require compromise.