David Obey: “again I want to make the point that we did not have government shutdowns the last 2 years because of an unhappy…”

“again I want to make the point that we did not have government shutdowns the last 2 years because of an unhappy accident. We had it because of this kind of a mind-set: One of your Members last year said, ``I believe the short-term problems the shutdown caused are a worthwhile price to pay.'' Another Member said, ``The President is at our mercy. With the looming prospect of another shutdown, people might be out of work, all of whom will be in his programs. I think he's going to care more than we do.'' Another of your leaders said, ``The President can run parts of the government that are left or he can run no government. Which of the two of us do you think worries more about the government not showing up?'' Another of your leaders said, ``We should be prepared to close down the government. If we close it down, people will listen. I don't want to see government shut down, but I'm not afraid of it.'' He also then went on to say, ``I don't see the government being shut down as a negative. I see it as a positive.'' One other of your leaders said, ``If we have to temporarily shut down the government to get people's attention to show we're going to balance the budget, then so be it.'' That was the problem. It was not process. It was mind-set. All you have to do to make government work is to change that mind-set. I want to point out to you if you pass this, it will be a special interest dream.…”