Patrick Leahy: “I hope some of these Members when they return to Washington will have a fresh perspective on the human toll this foolish…”

“I hope some of these Members when they return to Washington will have a fresh perspective on the human toll this foolish Government shutdown has taken. This foolish Government shutdown has taken a human toll. In fact, it is ironic that the House and Senate cannot seem to come together and get the work done necessary to get us out of this, but we are getting paid at the same time there are hundreds of thousands of Federal employees who want to work and they are not being paid. There are others deemed essential who go to work and will not be paid. These people have mortgages. These people have rent, heat, food, child care, everything else, to pay. They are not getting their paychecks. They are real human beings, whether they are in Vermont or any other State.”