Politics & Government

Wolf Seeks Open Government As Far Right Digs In On Obamacare

Virginia congressman and senators push end government shutdown impacts agencies, people.

As the impacts begin to hit after the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives failed to reach an agreement on a “Continuing Resolution” to keep the federal government operating temporarily, Loudoun’s representative in Washington, DC, are pressing for action to end the stalemate.

While the goal is the same, the tactics may appear different. Virginia’s senators are clearly placing the blame on the House, while Rep. Frank Wolf (R-10) simply called on Speaker of the House John Boehner to take some action to prevent impacts to critical agencies.

“Mr. Speaker, I’m calling for the government to reopen. I’m calling for leadership on both sides to resolve these issues,” Wolf stated on the House floor Tuesday. “The FBI is being impacted.  The CIA is being impacted. The National Terrorism Center, which is looking at leads that maybe coming to keep this nation safe, is being impacted. NIH and cancer research and Alzheimer’s research is being impacted. People and families are being impacted. This is bad for America. Enough is enough. It’s time to be leaders. It’s time to govern. Open up the government.”

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Sen. Tim Kaine (D) said Boehner’s call for a conference committee, which would search for a compromise between competing bills, comes to late to be taken seriously.

“The House's decision to finally seek a conference to discuss short-term budget issues after shutting government down shows a callous disregard for the economy and for millions of American families who are affected by the shutdown,” Kaine said in a statement released from his office Tuesday.

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“The House should act to re-open the federal government by accepting the compromise offered by the Senate. Otherwise they are responsible for keeping the government closed to make an ideological point over health care.”

Sen. Mark Warner (D) issued a statement Monday evening as the two houses continued to attempt for the other to act.

“It is disappointing that the House majority is prepared to shut down the federal government in its continuing ideological opposition to the Affordable Care Act,” Warner said. “This is not a responsible way to conduct our nation’s business. It threatens the economic recovery. It also is not fair to target the federal workforce to bear the brunt of this dysfunction.”


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