On the recordOctober 10, 2013
I am appreciative of the 57 Democrats in the House who have consistently voted with Republicans to pass targeted appropriation bills to fund the Federal Government. I am disappointed that so many House Democrats have cast votes to support a continued shutdown. Last night, the gentlewoman from Washington, D.C., Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, a Democrat, confronted President Obama over the District's budget in a White House meeting with the House Democratic conference. Ms. Holmes Norton argued for Senate Democrats and President Obama to pass and sign the bill she supported with Republicans to permit the District of Columbia to utilize tax revenue it collects to fund municipal services during this shutdown. Mr. Speaker, the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia is correct. It is long past time for the Senate leader to take up H.J. Res. 71 and all of the other bipartisan targeted appropriation bills that have been passed out of the House. By rolling the 11 House-passed bills into one, more than half of the partial government shutdown would be over. The American people deserve as much. ____________________
