Political Quotes

“So today is the 34th day of the longest government shutdown in history. It is a shutdown that has no excuse, and it has taken a great toll on dedicated public servants and their families across America. Americans who have jobs are actually standing in line at food pantries here in Washington and back home in my State of Maine. This Chamber, as of today, has voted 11 times to fund the government, to pay 800,000 workers, and to restart essential services. President Trump's unwillingness to reopen the government is tone deaf to the financial circumstances of working Americans. Most are living paycheck to paycheck, pay mortgages and healthcare premiums, and need to keep food on the table. Government workers and contractors cannot afford these weeks being held hostage. People who rely on government programs like SNAP and housing vouchers are feeling the stress. They cannot afford these weeks of being held hostage. Businesses that are losing opportunities to expand and grow their businesses cannot afford these 3 weeks of being held hostage. The consequences of this shutdown have rippled through our State and national economies. Members of Maine's Coast Guard, who protect us every single day, are about to miss their second paycheck while actively serving to protect our working waterfronts. The USDA's partial closure in Maine has put Maine farmers in financial limbo, and SNAP benefits for Maine's most vulnerable are on the verge of a lapse.…”