Nita Lowey: “Here we go again. Republicans insist on including riders that do not belong in an appropriations bill. Both the Senate…”

“Here we go again. Republicans insist on including riders that do not belong in an appropriations bill. Both the Senate and the President already made clear they will not accept these provisions. Still, the majority insists on taking the country toward a shutdown in a few short hours. As the clock ticks toward midnight, when appropriations will lapse and the government will shut down, Republicans have put forward the third version of a bill that is designed to shut down government unless we delay, defund, and deny affordable health care to American families. Mr. Speaker, Republicans claim Democrats refuse to negotiate. Let's review the history and Democrats' support for a compromise to keep government running: Republicans pushed us to the brink of default in the summer of 2011, resulting in a credit downgrade; Republicans walked out of negotiations with the President last December aimed at reaching a budget deal for this year; Republicans have refused to work with the Senate on the budget all year long; Republican leadership caved to the Tea Party and withdrew a plan that, in all likelihood, would have ended this standoff by separating health care legislation from a bill to keep the government running; And now Republicans refuse to say ``yes'' to the great concession made by Democrats in the Senate and the White House on the Republican spending level.…”