OK US Rep. Jim Bridenstine Statement on Government Shutdown and Frequently Asked Questions

http://bridenstine.house.gov/shutdown

Oct 1, 2013

Jim's Blog

As your representative in Congress, I want to keep you informed on recent events related to the decision by the Democrats to shutdown the government.

• The House of Representatives has sent four bills to the Senate that would keep the government open and ensure Members of Congress are treated just like hardworking Americans across the country.
• The House of Representatives is the only body of government that has the power to re-open the government.  I, along with my colleagues, am working overtime to reopen the government.
• We’ve acted to protect the American people from a government shutdown and an unworkable law – but the Senate has refused to negotiate.
• House Republicans have voted to request a conference committee, in which the House and Senate can come to the table, engage in a dialogue, and negotiate a solution. Senator Harry Reid has refused to even open a dialogue. 
• House Republicans remain committed to ending this government shutdown and fighting to protect the American people from Obamacare. It’s time for the Senate to join us at the negotiating table to achieve fairness for all.   
• On October 1st, Democrats voted against giving veterans their benefits, regardless of the government shutdown.
• This week the House has passed 5 "clean" spending bills to fund the Department of Veterans Affairs, national parks and monuments, National Institutes of Health, the District of Columbia and training programs for our National Guardsmen. 

The reason the federal government is shut down is because President Obama and his allies continue to protect a failed law that is hurting the country.  Congress should ensure not another dime of taxpayer money is spent on Obamacare.

If you have additional questions regarding federal agencies or how the government shutdown might affect you, please read some frequently asked questions here.

The Democratic Shutdown
				Yes		No
Date		Legislation		R	D	R	D
SEPT. 20		House Passes CR No. 1- H.J. Res. 59-Protects the Full Faith and Credit of the United States, Fully Funds the Government while permanently defunding the President's unworkable health care law.		228	2	1	188
SENATE STALLS, TAKING NO ACTION FOR TWO DAYS
SEPT. 27		Senate Rejects CR No. 1- H.J. Res. 59- Senate sends shorter-term CR, stripped of Obamacare language, by a party-line vote back to the House.		0	54	44	0
SEPT 29		House Passes H.R. 3210- The Pay Our Military Act. Ensures that active-duty military, DOD employees and certain Pentagon contractors continue to receive pay.		231	192	0	0
SEPT. 29		House Passes CR No. 2- H.J. Res. 59- Paulsen Amendment -Extends the length of the CR back to the original 75-day length, and repeals the Medical Device Tax.		231	17	0	174
		House Passes CR No. 2- H.J. Res. 59- Blackburn Amendment -Extends the length of the CR back to the original 75-day length, and delays implementation of Obamacare for 1-year.		229	2	2	190
SENATE STALLS, STROLLING IN AT 2 PM THE NEXT DAY
SEPT. 30		Senate Rejects House CR No. 2- H.J. Res. 59-Tabling both amendments and resubmitting a carbon copy of Harry Reid's initial offer.		0	54	46	0
SEPT. 30		House Passes CR No. 3- H.J. Res 59- Includes one-year delay of the individual mandate and repeals the Obamacare exemption for White House staff, members of Congress and their staff.		219	9	12	189
SEPT. 30		Senate Rejects CR No. 3- H.J. Res. 59- Harry Reid sends the exact same offer to the House for the third time.		0	54	46	0
SENATE DEMOCRATS STAND BY AS  U.S. GOVERNMENT SHUTS DOWN HOUSE SPEAKER APPOINTS CONFEREES TO NEGOTIATE SOLUTIONS,  WHILE SENATE DEMS REFUSE TO COME TO THE TABLE.
Oct. 1		House Democrats Reject H.J. Res. 70- Keeping national parks and museums closed, even to WWII veterans.		230*	22	1	175
Oct. 1		House Democrats Reject H.J. Res. 71- Withholding local funding for the District of Columbia.		231*	34	0	163
Oct. 1		House Democrats Reject H.J. Res. 72- Abandoning U.S. Veterans by refusing to fund their benefits.		231*	33	0	164
Oct. 2		House Passes H.J. Res. 70- Keeping national parks and museums open, as part of House Republican's commitment to fully fund the government.		229	23	1	172
Oct. 2		House Passes H.J. Res. 71- Providing funding for the District of Columbia, as part of House Republican's commitment to fully fund the government.		Voice Vote
Oct. 2		House Passes H.J. Res. 73- Providing funding for the National Institutes of Health, which conducts life-saving cancer research, as part of House Republican's commitment to fully fund the government.		229	25	1	170
Oct. 3		House Passes H.R. 3230- The Pay Our Guard and Reserve Act. Ensures that our National Guard and military reservists continue to receive pay.		229	36	0	160
Oct.3		House Passes H.J.Res. 72- Providing funding for programs that support our nation's veterans.		224	35	0	157

*failed under suspension of the rules, which requires two-thirds majority to pass.

Source: http://rsc.scalise.house.gov/homepage/democrat-shutdown.htm

[Debrajoe Beatty]

Remove Obama and Reid from office. These two have placed their interests above the US citizens welfare.

[Carri Rice]

Many Patriots would rejoice if that were to happen

[Clois Beckwith]

Come on National Truck Strike, may this government be responsible for the first bullet let, then this Nation of 300 million will be on the War Path to restoring the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights and remove all in Washington by force.....

[Robert James Burkholder]

politics is a very dirty game -- and the Communists play it quite dirty--Yes.

[Carol Condit]

I say "THANK YOU" from the bottom of my heart to the 2 Arizona Dems who voted with the Conservative Party! 

Kyrsten Sinema and Ron Barber, THIS Arizona Republican is proud of you!  Carol Condit