Gilbert Gutknecht: “we saw during last winter's budget battle that if liberal Democrats down at the White House did not get their way, they…”

“we saw during last winter's budget battle that if liberal Democrats down at the White House did not get their way, they simply shut down the Government. They fought with every fiber against saving Medicare, against commonsense tax relief for families, against welfare reform and a balanced budget. Mr. Speaker, the cycle is repeating itself. Yesterday, the Democrat leader in the other body, issued an ultimatum: ``We are simply going to shut this place down.'' In other words, because the Democrats did not get their way, they are willing to shut down the business of this country. This is shameless. Liberal Democrats are willing to shut down the Government so that they can pander to the big union bosses here in Washington. Tax relief, welfare reform, a balanced budget, saving Medicare, all of that is on hold because the Democrats want to score a few cheap political points with the special interests here inside the beltway.”