Barbara Boxer: “Reserving the right to object to the original request. I feel I must respond. Senator Murray and I looked at each other…”

“Reserving the right to object to the original request. I feel I must respond. Senator Murray and I looked at each other and said: It feels as though it is ``Alice in Wonderland.'' Where were my colleagues 21 times when the chairman of the Budget Committee or her representatives asked to go to conference on the budget resolution, in which the conferees would negotiate how to fund the various parts of government, and that instruction would be sent to the appropriators? I do not understand what is happening here. All we hear on the other side is negotiate, negotiate. They won't remember--selective memory, perhaps--that they objected 21 times to going to negotiations on the budget. I have to say, this is the saddest display coming from the Republicans, who serve in the greatest legislative body in the world, to try to fund this government on a piecemeal basis, leaving some of our families winners and some of our families losers. It is pathetic, and they have caused this Republican shutdown. They can end it. Because I feel my friend's narrow, piecemeal approach to running this country is very wrong for this country, I object. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard. The Senator from Iowa.”