Jeff Merkley said "I asked my colleague from across the aisle if he would pause for a question not to address all the lists of particulars he threw out to all 47 of his colleagues on this side of the aisle but to simply make one point. That is, he said, that Democrats want to shut down the government. Did he forget that Republicans are in charge of this Chamber? Did he forget that all 47 of us here said that we are willing to vote today on the five spending bills? Did he miss that somehow? Republicans are in charge of the Oval Office. They are in charge of the House of Representatives, and Republicans are in charge of the Senate." @ PoliticalQuotes.com

On the recordJanuary 28, 2026

I asked my colleague from across the aisle if he would pause for a question not to address all the lists of particulars he threw out to all 47 of his colleagues on this side of the aisle but to simply make one point. That is, he said, that Democrats want to shut down the government. Did he forget that Republicans are in charge of this Chamber? Did he forget that all 47 of us here said that we are willing to vote today on the five spending bills? Did he miss that somehow? Republicans are in charge of the Oval Office. They are in charge of the House of Representatives, and Republicans are in charge of the Senate.

Said by

Jeff Merkley

Democratic · Oregon

Source

govinfo.gov

Editor's note · Context

Addressing claims about government shutdown during a debate on spending bills.

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