Jon Tester: “we are in day number 7 of this government shutdown. As was pointed out by the Senator from Alaska and the Senator from…”

“we are in day number 7 of this government shutdown. As was pointed out by the Senator from Alaska and the Senator from Oregon, we started with a continuing resolution of $1.058 billion. That was compromised down, with the expectation that there would be a clean CR, to $986 billion--over a $70 billion reduction. That wasn't good enough because there were some who wanted to add different amendments to deal with the affordable health care act. The bottom line is that we are in the throes of a governmental shutdown. It is interesting that since the government was shut down--midnight tonight will be a solid week--we have seen bills come over from the House that would fund the VA and the National Park Service. The Senator from Alaska is on the Veterans' Affairs Committee. We both work very hard for rural veterans in this country, but we both know the VA can't do their job unless the IRS has funding and CMS has funding. So it is great to put that political gesture out there, but the truth is that they can't do their job until we have more than just the VA funded. Then there was a story of childhood cancer, so the House came across and said: Maybe we ought to fund the National Institutes of Health. Then there was the terrible scene last week where Capitol police officers--who are actually working without pay--had to address a lady who drove up here by the Hart Building. Since those officers responded, maybe we should pay them. So they came across with a bill for them.…”