On the recordOctober 1, 2013
They come every 17 years. They make a strange and unpleasant noise, and then they shut down. Like those periodic cicadas that trouble different parts of the country, an irresponsible segment of the Republican House caucus has reverted to the old GOP shenanigans of a government shutdown that they've left in some burrow for the last 17 years. That Republican ``Shutdown Caucus'' has taken over the leadership of the Republican Party. They've hijacked it. But we cannot permit them to hijack America. This is more than a backyard nuisance. It is an attempt to interfere with the lawful rights of millions of Americans to gain access to the health insurance that they have been denied in the past. We must stand for their right to protect their family and secure their future. We must reject those who appear every 17 years to shut down our government. And we must stand up for America. ____________________
