John Sarbanes: “The turmoil and uncertainty created by vast numbers of Federal workers not going to work or not being paid is poisoning…”

“The turmoil and uncertainty created by vast numbers of Federal workers not going to work or not being paid is poisoning the atmosphere for progress on the budget. Too much hardship has already been inflicted, not only on the 760,000 unpaid workers, but on millions of Americans who cannot get visas, loans, or any number of other Federal services. Congress and the President should reopen the government now. I absolutely agree with that sentiment. There is a colleague in the House, in the Republican leadership in the House, who said in mid-November, ``You have a group in our conference who could not care less if the Government shuts down. They will be cheering.'' What an abdication of responsibility. Do Members of Congress, as my distinguished colleague from New Mexico states, think they have no responsibility for ensuring that the Government continues to function and providing the basic services upon which so many of our people are dependent? The people in the private sector, some will go bankrupt out of this escapade.”