Congressman Sires’ Statement on the Republican Government Shutdown
For Immediate Release Contact: Erica Daughtrey
October 1, 2013 201-309-0301
Congressman Sires’ Statement on the Republican Government Shutdown
(Washington, D.C.)- Today, Congressman Sires released the following statement in response to the government shutdown as a result of House leadership’s refusal to bring to a vote a clean Continuing Resolution (CR):
“Last night, the Republicans in the House majority voted for the fourth time on a reckless spending bill that is a non-starter with the Senate and President Obama. Their refusal to retreat from their extreme, ideological demands is taking our country down a dangerous path that will hurt our economy, threaten job creation, and leave families with less security, and our country with less certainty and stability.
Today, 800,000 federal employees woke up to discover that they cannot work nor get paid. This refusal to pass a clean spending legislation to keep the government funded has got to stop. Partisan tactics have now become reality as thousands of Americans anxiously wait when they can go back to work and support their families.
The Republicans latest maneuver was passing a measure in the middle of the night to request a conference with the Senate to negotiate a spending measure. I am supportive of budget negotiations for a comprehensive plan that addresses responsible government spending, but not for a last ditch effort that only guarantees a continued government shutdown. Keeping our government running is a basic function of Congress. Attaching unrelated policy measures to a simple funding resolution is unacceptable.
My Democratic colleagues in the House of Representatives have even looked to compromise with Republicans by offering a lower funding level in the CR to a level previously supported by Republicans, but that offer was rejected. I urge my colleagues across the aisle to pass a clean CR to ensure our recovering economy does not suffer more damage, as well as the American people.”
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