Dan Kildee: “Here we are again. On Thursday, the government runs out of funding because the majority has not yet been able to reach…”

“Here we are again. On Thursday, the government runs out of funding because the majority has not yet been able to reach across the aisle and negotiate a long-term budget agreement that reflects the priorities of the American people. One party controls the House, the Senate, and the White House, but there is not a functional majority in the hands of one or another party. The majority is comprised of thoughtful Members who, on both sides of the aisle, if we chose to, could sit around the negotiating table and work out the differences that we bring to this Congress in a way that moves the country forward and adopts a budget that is reflective of the priorities that we were sent here to address. So long as one party takes the approach that all of the votes necessary to pass any measure must only come from one party, we are not going to be able to move forward as a country. Being in the minority, I understand we don't get to set the agenda, but we ought not be locked out of the conversation, especially when it is by coming together that we can get a long-term budget and not continue to kick the can down the road. ____________________”