Posted on 10/08/2013 6:19:13 PM PDT by ican'tbelieveit
End the Shutdown and Negotiate
To govern in a divided government and get results, one must be open to compromise. And I know the American people and the people of Colorado expect us to govern.
We are now in the second week of a government shutdown. To compound matters, the country will reach its authorized debt limit in a little over a week. Congress and President Obama must end this partisan drama by passing a spending bill to reopen the government, avert an economic crisis by passing an increase in the debt limit, and immediately begin working on a bipartisan solution to stop Washington’s spending problem.
I’ve said all along that I didn’t want a Government shutdown. It’s sad that partisan bickering has led us to where we are; hopefully some bipartisan solutions can lead us out.
It might not be popular to say so, but I believe that extremists in both parties have kept us from finding real solutions. It concerns me that some Democrats appear to be “rooting for a shutdown” because they think it helps them politically. And likewise, it also concerns me that some Republicans used the flawed strategy of a shutdown for what appears to be nothing more than an exercise in national fundraising.
I have done my best to delay, defund and dismantle all or parts of Obamacare because I believe that much of it will be harmful to this country in the long run. Lost in the shutdown coverage, the problems with the new ObamaCare exchanges are a major cause for concern. However, the debate over attaching Obamacare to a spending bill must end and I will argue before my colleagues in the House that we need to pass a “clean” spending bill to immediately reopen the government. Reducing spending remains my top concern, that’s why I believe this funding resolution should stay within the spending caps that both parties agreed to last time the nation’s debt limit was increased in 2011.
The United States is now buried under a staggering $17 trillion in red ink and we are on a trajectory to face a debt crisis that could eventually threaten our national security. President Obama has previously said that he will not negotiate on another increase to the debt limit and instead wants all future increases to occur automatically without the consent of Congress. Most voters disagree with that plan too, since Washington could pretend that its spending problem doesn’t exist.
President Obama is now saying that he is willing to negotiate on additional steps to bring down the debt but only after the partial shutdown has ended and the debt limited is once again raised. I will take him at his word that he is willing to work with Republicans on a budget agreement to bring down our debt. I will support a temporary increase in the debt limit that is long enough for Republicans and Democrats to come together and work toward a bipartisan solution on a budget agreement that will put our country on a sustainable fiscal path. If that’s 6 months, 12 months or longer I am open to any plan that brings back economic certainty to the markets and reopens the Government.
Compromise solutions like this will get us back on track. As a member of the bipartisan group called “No Labels” I believe that Washington’s broken, and that both parties need to stop playing games. If we start acting seriously about these real issues, I know we can get results.
The Democrats on the House Rules committee can make extra bucks working Freak Shows!
Isolate these vermin, F them and their constituents.
CLASS WAR is a 2 way street.
Guess what.
Our side don't care about a shutdown, because we ACTUALLY PAY TAXES and don't be getting any assistance from the DC apparatus anyways.
Yeah, SKA-REW that!
Right now, it's only 17% shutdown. Restore some of the current shutdown and start working on the other 83%....that's where the real money is.
I have done my best to delay, defund and dismantle all or parts of Obamacare because I believe that much of it will be harmful to this country in the long run.
Well you should be doing your best to delay, defund and dismantle all or parts of the federal bureaucracy because much most of it is harmful to this country in the long run.
I think he’s speaking a tad above his lay grade.
Total Idiot
What an idiot and a wuss.
You sire, are a fool. If any of you, on both sides, really wanted to fix this problem, you would have done so in the weeks and months leading up to this point - you could have done your jobs and proactively addressed this problem like all businesses and families would do.
I say again, you are a fool if you believe him.
Reminds me of the cowardly politician in Braveheart. “Men! Don’t flee! Wait until we’ve negotiated!”
All I’m hearing is, “Bleat, bleat, bleat...”
Geesh. Read down the moron’s facebook page. I’m embarrassed for him today.
Bed wetter.
Despite the best efforts of the fringe wings of both parties to force a never-ending stalemate, a bipartisan proposal to end this shutdown has been put forward and I am proud to be a part of it.
Really, Mike, you think of your constituents that do not want you to waver in this debate as the "fringe wing?"
No what we need is for you to resign and go home. CO needs a new congress critter.
Oh, I like how he saved out military folks. Singlehandedly. Thank goodness for him, eh? And his bill, of course. And a few hundred other people.
He’s getting flamed, as he should. I can honestly say that I will never have written words accredited to my name as embarrasing as “I take him at his word” speaking of Obama.
What a useless tool, fool, etc....
And we should take the word of a man whose middle name is LIAR and who requires candidates for jobs with him to excel at lying, I really don’t think it would be a good idea to agree to anything with his promise to negotiate later.
As a member of the bipartisan group called “No Labels”
Read this and knew immediately this guy’s a liberal....did the Republicans who voted for him know he was a liberal or did he hide it until after he won the election??
Shove it up Obama’s butt, if he refuses o give up Obamacare.
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