On the recordSeptember 30, 2013
Instead of working with Democrats to prevent a shutdown, House Republicans have passed two bills that have no chance of becoming law. They are the 42nd and 43rd votes on undermining the Affordable Care Act. While the old saying goes, ``if at first you don't succeed, try, try again,'' I say to my colleagues across the aisle: stop trying to shut down the Government of the United States of America. Democrats have offered a compromise in which Republicans get the spending levels they want. It is time to stop pandering to the Tea Party and to do what is right--pass the Senate compromise and avoid a shutdown driven solely by radical Republicans. ____________________
