On the recordOctober 1, 2013
This government, the government of the greatest Nation on Earth, will reopen only when the public decides that one party is being uncompromising and unreasonable. The continuing resolution that the Senate sent us sets the spending level, and it sets the level right there at the Republican Ryan budget level--$250 billion below the President's request, $72 billion below the Senate Democratic budget. When it comes to spending levels, we have compromised. It is manifestly unreasonable to shut down the government to achieve a legislative objective. Today, we are told that they will keep the government open for 45 or 60 days if only we allow them to dismantle ObamaCare. In December, they will say we will keep the government open a little longer if only we will strip-mine Yellowstone. What if Democrats took the same tactic? What if we said we are going to shut down government until we get immigration reform, campaign finance reform, or gun control? We are as dedicated to those issues as they are to their ceaseless quest to repeal ObamaCare. But we will not shut down the government, we will not destroy the economy, we will not take hostages, we will not hurt this country just to get our own way. ____________________
