Patrick Kennedy: “this amendment, instead of preventing a government shutdown, actually shuts down the democratic process. Basically, what…”

“this amendment, instead of preventing a government shutdown, actually shuts down the democratic process. Basically, what it says is the majority can choose to pass those appropriations bills, those programs that they want to make sure are passed and they can let the others wither on the vine. The minority will not be represented under this process, make no mistake about it. Because those programs that do not have the constituency, that do not have the majority support, it is easy to let them slide when we do not have to take the vote, when we do not have to be accountable to that minority point of view. I think this is a terrible policy. I think it is much like us giving up our responsibility to our constituents. We were sent here by our constituents to represent them. If we vote for this amendment, what we are really saying is take my vote and throw it away because it will not count anything for what the people sent me to do because this vote will be a throw-away when it comes to the programs that make a difference.”