On the recordApril 7, 2011
It's time to stop holding the American people hostage to the ideological whims of those who don't understand that responsible governing is the art of compromise. We are on the sixth continuing resolution in as many months for the current fiscal year. It's time to get the job done, and thankfully negotiations are underway. Yet the bill we are considering today undercuts that effort and the sincerity of the majority to avoid a shutdown. This bill perpetuates the ``my way or the highway'' philosophy of House Republicans. It continues their blind assault on vital services to constituents in every community in America like education, public safety, clean water and Social Security. Further exposing their lack of sincerity, this bill just puts the hard decisions off for another week. Shutting down the government is not a victory but a defeat for us, the American people and the democratic process. That's why I cannot be an enabler for a reckless, meat axe approach to funding public services. Let's reject this short-term approach in favor of a more responsible bill. We owe my constituents and the citizens we all serve no less. Let's do our jobs.
