On the recordDecember 2, 2015
The bipartisan budget agreement signed into law last month helped to avert another manufactured political crisis here in Washington. But our work is not done. If we don't pass a spending bill before December 11, working Americans and seniors will face another dangerous government shutdown. Sadly, Mr. Speaker, Republican leadership continues to threaten this process over radical policy riders like defunding Planned Parenthood. Unfortunately, in his first press conference, the new Speaker could not rule out another Republican government shutdown. As we face tremendous threats to our national security, we need to set politics aside. Some things in this House have to be exempt from political gamesmanship, and we would certainly think that keeping government open and functioning would be one of the things that we take out of the political conversation. Mr. Speaker, the American people want us to do our job. Our job is to make sure that this government runs, and we can't do that if we continue to use politics and the threat of a government shutdown to achieve what can't be achieved through the normal legislative process. Mr. Speaker, we need to do our job. ____________________
