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*Government Shutdown


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We have a history, a pattern of the Republicans taking control and shutting down the government as they did in 1995. It hasn't happened since then, even when we had disagreements when George Bush and the Democratic Congress. It’s not an alternative we ought to be taking. I think we're very close. [Democrats] have come 70% of the way in terms of dollars. That’s a long way to go in terms of trying to reach compromise. Now as the President and Harry Reid pointed out, there are social issues which the Republicans are holding hostage the government.

Republicans have announced that they are bringing to the House Floor a divisive and partisan spending bill, which will not pass the Senate. Their refusal to make tough choices moves us closer to a government shutdown, which will severely threaten our economic recovery. Instead of partisan maneuvering, we should be working to quickly find a compromise on a long-term spending bill that tackles our deficit. If that work needs a few more days, then we should pass a simple, bipartisan bill to keep the government open for the American people. Democrats are presenting such a bill as our alternative to the Republicans’ partisan patch. It is time for members of both parties who understand that ‘my way or the highway’ doesn’t work in a democracy to compromise and prevent a government shutdown.