See below for comments by Virginia elected officials and candidates on the Trump/GOP government shutdown. As usual, Republicans prove that the party which doesn’t even believe in government is – shocker! – not capable of governing, even/especially when their party controls BOTH Congress AND the White House.
WARNER & KAINE STATEMENT ON REPUBLICANS FORCING A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Tonight, U.S. Senators Mark Warner, a member of the Senate Finance and Budget Committees, and Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Armed Services and Budget Committees, released the following statement:
“A year after Donald Trump became President, he and Republican leaders in Congress have delivered the shutdown he’s been calling for. Those who will suffer the most from his actions are federal employees and DoD personnel in Virginia who have already been hurt as we lurch from one budget crisis to the next. We put forward offer after offer tonight to prevent a shutdown and keep the government open over the weekend so we could work together to finalize a deal. Republicans rejected every single one. Virginians are counting on us to pass a bill that funds our military, education and health care programs, extends the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and protects Dreamers. We’re still at the table so we can reach that deal, and Republicans should reopen the government immediately and join us.”
On Thursday, Warner and Kaine announced their opposition to another one-month CR because it would needlessly perpetuate budgetary dysfunction and uncertainty for Virginia and the military. They called on Republican leadership to avert a government shutdown and stay in session through the weekend to finalize a deal.
The federal government has never been shut down when the House, Senate, and White House were under control of the same party.
Until now.
One year into his term, Donald Trump has made history.
— Rep. Don Beyer (@RepDonBeyer) January 20, 2018
In 2011 Trump said the President is responsible for getting everyone in the room to avoid a shutdown.
In 2016 Trump said of the country’s problems, “I alone can fix it.”
This week Trump blocked the deal which could have avoided a shutdown. Does anyone know what he wants?
— Rep. Don Beyer (@RepDonBeyer) January 20, 2018
It will be difficult to end this shutdown if Republican leaders do not start allowing bipartisan compromises to come to the floor for votes.
It’s vital that they do so with all possible haste. This shutdown is a national embarrassment, but also it could hurt people badly.
— Rep. Don Beyer (@RepDonBeyer) January 20, 2018
I am working hard to build support for the bipartisan Federal Employee Retroactive Pay Fairness Act in the House.
This bill, which I introduced with @RobWittman, will make sure feds get back pay. They didn’t cause this shutdown, and they shouldn’t be punished for it.
— Rep. Don Beyer (@RepDonBeyer) January 20, 2018
In the office monitoring impacts of potential #TrumpShutdown pic.twitter.com/9T7BztaUc2
— Rep. Bobby Scott (@BobbyScott) January 20, 2018
Connolly Statement on Republican Shutdown
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Gerald E. Connolly (D-VA), released the following statement on the Republican shutdown:
“Republicans control the White House, the House and Senate and blame everyone but themselves for this government shutdown. This is reckless, irresponsible and a complete abrogation of their constitutional duty to provide a functioning government. Their failure to compromise on Children’s Health insurance, funding caps, and DACA is a failure of leadership and governance that discredits their legitimacy as a party. The consequences of another government shutdown will be felt by all Americans who are victims of this failure.
As a result of a Democrat led filibuster, the Senate opted for a government shutdown instead of supporting our military and federal employees and the essential and important work they do. As the only Member of Congress in the National Capital Region to vote to keep the government open and stop shutdowns during both Democrat and Republican Administrations, it is simply unacceptable to hold our military and federal employees hostage.
Last night I voted for bipartisan legislation to fund the government. This legislation also funds the Children’s Health Insurance Program for 6 years; delays the Medical Device Tax for two additional years; delays the Cadillac healthcare tax for two additional years; and suspends the Health Insurance Tax for 2019. The House has also passed all twelve appropriations for FY18 and all have stalled in the U.S. Senate where Democrats refuse to compromise. The policies in the House passed funding bill were all policies that have bipartisan agreement. Yet, Democrats refuse to take yes for an answer on these issues we all agree on.
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis spoke today about the negative effects of a government shutdown on our men and women in uniform, ‘Our maintenance activities will probably pretty much shut down… over 50 percent, altogether of my civilian workforce will be furloughed… we do a lot of intelligence operations around the world and they cost money, those obviously would stop.’
Keeping the federal government open means keeping our intelligence and homeland security professionals on the job tracking down threats and terrorists. Keeping the federal government open means the Central Intelligence Agency, Department of Defense, and National Security Agency officials will be one hundred percent focused on their mission. Keeping the federal government open means that National Institute of Health researchers keep working toward finding new cures for cancer and other chronic diseases. Stopping the daily work of government is costly and disruptive to both our federal workforce as well as the contractors who assist with their missions. The government shutdown in 2013 is estimated to have cost $24 billion according to Standard & Poor’s.
House and Senate Democrat votes for shutdown and denying CHIP funding outnumber Republican votes to do the same by a ratio of 231 to 15. If you don’t know that this is a #SchumerShutdown then you either cannot do math or are a math denier.
— Tom Garrett (@GarrettforVA) January 20, 2018
STATEMENT ON GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN FROM PAUL PELLETIER, DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR VA-10
January 19, 2018
Press Contact: Kim Devlin
Paul Pelletier tonight released a video statement on the government shutdown. The video can be viewed here.
Text of the video statement is below:
“Donald Trump and the Republicans in Congress should be ashamed of themselves for playing political games with America’s finances. To hold up hard-working American DREAMers, young kids who desperately need health care, and the paychecks of federal employee’s is a disgrace.
“I urge the Republican Party to do their job and keep the government open. In the meantime, Barbara Comstock needs to do her job and fight for the federal employees she is supposed to represent.”
McLean, Va. – VA-10 Congressional candidate Alison Friedman has released the following statement on the government shutdown:“At every turn throughout this process, Republicans in Congress remind us their priorities are not good governance but political games.“For the first time in decades, a major political party in control of both chambers and the White House have shutdown the government. Americans, specifically Virginians, deserve better than what Donald Trump, Barbara Comstock and Republicans have to offer: chaos and destruction. Virginians simply should not be left out to dry. Instead, our federal government should be supporting our region’s civil servants, funding the country’s CHIP program, and keeping Virginia’s economy moving in the right direction.“Barbara Comstock and her party cannot govern. And that failure is hurting Virginia’s 10th.”
.@realDonaldTrump and House Republicans are failing to fulfill their most basic responsibility: keeping the government open.
But we won’t throw 800,000 Dreamers and 9 million low-income kids under the bus. It’s negligent, it’s wrong, and it’s bad for the country.
— Lindsey Davis Stover (@LindseyForUS) January 19, 2018
State Senator Jennifer Wexton released the following statement on the Government Shutdown:
“It is unacceptable that Washington Republicans have allowed their political games to shutdown the federal government. This failure will hit especially hard in Northern Virginia, where so many of our constituents rely on the federal government for their families’ livelihood.
Donald Trump and the Republican Party are creating chaos in the federal government and Barbara Comstock is enabling it. They have shown us time and again they cannot responsibly govern. It’s time to vote them out in November.
In the Virginia General Assembly, we pass a budget every year because it is the responsible way to govern. We come together and reach across the aisle to do what is best for the people of Virginia. Apparently Barbara Comstock and Washington Republicans have forgotten how to do that.”
Why is it anytime @realDonaldTrump is involved people end up not getting paid for just doing their job? #FederalEmployees #Contractors
— Ryan Sawyers (@RyanSawyersVA) January 20, 2018
Cullop Calls Government Shutdown An “Embarrassment”
EARLYSVILLE, VA – Today, Albemarle County Democrat, 4th generation Virginian and candidate for Congress in Virginia’s 5th District, Ben Cullop issued the following statement on the government shutdown.
It’s an embarrassment to Virginians and to the country that Tom Garrett and Republicans, who control every branch of the federal government, can’t figure out how to keep the government’s lights on and make sure it works for the taxpayers. They’ve had their chance. It’s time they put politics aside and get to work on behalf of the people.
Delegate Bell Responds to Government Shutdown
RICHMOND, Va.: Delegate John J. Bell (D – Loudoun) had the following to say about the federal government shutdown overnight in Washington:
“It’s absolutely unconscionable that Republicans in Washington think they can play games with the livelihoods of thousands of Northern Virginia families by shutting down the government. As a veteran, I know how scary it can be for families who don’t know if they’re going to get their next paycheck and still put their lives on the line every day for our nation. I condemn these actions by President Trump and House and Senate Republicans who think it’s better to play politics than practice good government.”
Governor Northam Statement on Federal Government Shutdown
RICHMOND – Governor Ralph Northam released the following statement today after Congress’ failure to pass a measure to outline a long-term funding solution for the federal government and prevent a shutdown.
“Virginia cannot afford this dysfunction. Last night Congress demonstrated that it would rather play political games than give millions of Americans, many of whom live in Virginia, the certainty they deserve about their paychecks, their health care and many other important issues.
“Last night’s abdication of leadership also leaves nearly 69,000 Virginia children who rely on CHIP funding for health care, as well hundreds of thousands DACA recipients, hanging in the balance. As damaging as a shutdown will be to Virginia’s economy, stop-gap measures to renew the government’s funding every 30 days are nearly as unsustainable and put whole sectors of our economy at risk, including our military and government contractors.
“As Virginia’s governor, no one is more sensitive to the fact that our economy is uniquely exposed to what happens in Washington. This shutdown puts Virginia jobs and economic activity at risk. It’s past time for leaders in Washington to get their act together and come to an agreement on a long-term funding solution for the federal government.”
The #GOP controlled congress FAILED to reauthorize #CHIP, FAILED to pass a #CleanDreamAct & FAILED to appropriate federal funds to keep the Government open. Despite bipartisan proposals from @TheDemocrats in all three areas, the #GOP is responsible for the #TrumpShutdown #Va02.
— Karen Mallard for Congress (@mallardforva) January 20, 2018
Elaine Luria for Congress (note by Lowell – this statement REALLY annoys me, as it’s the epitome of false equivalence “both sides-ism.” BARF!)
“Republicans and Democrats need to work together to prevent a government shutdown. Federal employees and military service members should never be the victims of partisan bickering.”
#GOP controls White House and Congress — this is a failure in leadership. You've had months to pass bipartisan #CHIP and #DACA but instead passed #GOPTaxScam to give tax breaks to rich friends. #VA10 is ready for change and will be voting this year! https://t.co/8KaAfVVxRD
— Dan Helmer (@HelmerVA10) January 20, 2018
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