Debbie Lesko: “I thank Representative Scanlon from Pennsylvania for yielding me the customary 30 minutes, and I yield myself as much…”

“I thank Representative Scanlon from Pennsylvania for yielding me the customary 30 minutes, and I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I agree with Representative Scanlon. I want to open the government. Republicans want to open the government. Democrats want to open the government. So I respectfully ask House and Senate Democrats to stop holding our Federal workers hostage. You know, on December 20, I voted for and Republicans voted for in the House a bill right here, standing right here on December 20, that would have kept the government open, and then we would not have had any of these discussions or need for these bills, because the government would still be open. Unfortunately, not one Democrat Member of the House voted for it. I, too, have Federal workers in my district who are hurting, these great men and women who work hard each and every day of their life, single mothers who are waiting for their paycheck. So I call on my colleagues across the aisle to please come to the negotiating table. I believe the number one rule in Negotiations 101 is you have to show up. Repeatedly, we have seen the Republicans and the President request the Democrat leadership to come and negotiate, give a counteroffer. They refuse to show up.…”