John Kline: “We find ourselves 1 week into a government shutdown. That's something I hoped I would never have to say on the floor of…”

“We find ourselves 1 week into a government shutdown. That's something I hoped I would never have to say on the floor of this House. I did not want this; House Republicans did not want this; and the American people surely did not want this. So why are we here? We're here because Democrats in the United States Senate and the President of the United States refuse to negotiate with the people's elected Representatives here in the House. How long can their refusal to negotiate go on? All we are asking for is a conversation, Mr. Speaker. That's it. House Republicans want to sit down in good faith and work to get this government open again and to make sure that all Americans are treated fairly under the President's health care law. My colleague from Indiana, just moments ago, pointed out that we pass bills in this House with overwhelming majorities--margins of over 100 votes, bipartisan votes--to keep important, essential services up and running. There are grounds for agreement. We just have to negotiate. Leader Reid, Mr. President, let's talk. ____________________”