On the recordJanuary 10, 2014
I thank my friend from New Jersey for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, there are so many truly pressing issues facing our Nation, so it is a shame that we are here once again wasting time on legislation like this. It doesn't even solve the issues the Republicans claim they are trying to address. The truth is, the bill we are considering today is far from a productive answer to anything. It is just yet another scare tactic to discourage people from obtaining health care--that is right. Here is a news flash for you: Republicans want to stop people from attaining health care. I don't think why we should expect anything else from a party with such little vision. Instead of creating opportunity, they have become the party that shuts things down. They shut down the government. They shut down unemployment insurance for people who are desperately trying to find work. They have tried repeatedly to shut down the Affordable Care Act. As a matter of fact, 47 times--47 times--they have attempted to shut down the Affordable Care Act. Heck, they are even shutting down bridges in New Jersey. The fact is, it seems like their agenda is just about shutting down things that actually work for American families. Republicans can't just slam the door shut again and again on the American people. It is time to end this shutdown mentality once and for all here in Washington and get back to working on issues of concern to the entire Nation.
