David Obey: “Continuing my reservation of objection, let me simply say, Mr. Speaker, that I am troubled by this, because while I…”

“Continuing my reservation of objection, let me simply say, Mr. Speaker, that I am troubled by this, because while I think we want the District government to remain open, that there would be no need for this specific resolution, as narrowly drawn as it is tonight, if the House leadership would simply allow us to bring up the Dole resolution which passed the Senate yesterday, which opens up all of the agencies of Government. We have the ridiculous situation under which some Federal workers have been paid for work which they were not allowed to do, and other Federal workers are being required to perform work for which they are not getting paid. The District is not the only jurisdiction with problems. There are 10 States, I am told, that are about to run out of needed funds to administer unemployment compensation programs. There are 95 percent of workplace safety inspections which are not taking place. There are 2,500 mortgage applications a day under SBA that are not being attended to. Veterans' education benefits are in question for 170,000 veterans. Pension fraud cases are not being pursued. The Older Americans Act and Meals on Wheels are being put at risk, all because of the arrogance, it seems to me, of some Members of this body who put their political and economic ideology ahead of the right of taxpayers to receive the services for which they have already paid.”