GOP Wants Deal, Tea Party Wants Shutdown
Freshman Rep. Mo Brooks (R-AL) at the press conference.
House Republicans held the latest in a series of daily press conferences in front of the Senate steps on Capitol Hill today, continuing to urge Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to pass a long term continuing resolution that would last through the current fiscal year. But shortly after, during another rally on the Hill, conservative activists cheered the prospect of a shutdown.
“Mr. Reid, your lack of action and absence of leadership is irresponsible – it’s now been 46 days since the House of Representatives passed a bill that reduces the massive $1.4 trillion deficit… by a modest $61 billion. Where’s your bill, Mr. Reid?” said Rep. Rick Crawford (R-AR), who had been organizing the daily press conferences.
In order for spending authority to be given for the rest of the fiscal year, the Senate would need to pass a continuing resolution, which would then be brought to a reconciliation process in conjunction with the House.
Freshman Rep. Mo Brooks (R-AL) gave an impassioned speech at the press conference, saying that Republicans “are trying to avoid insolvency... but it almost looks like the people across the street [in the Senate] want to drive us into insolvency… we wanted to do more [than $61 billion in cuts] but the Democrats wouldn’t let us.” (The speech was so impassioned, in fact, that tourists were drawn to the scene, and one bystander was inspired to interrupt the press conference repeatedly by voicing his agreement).
Gary Thompson of Pasadena, Maryland
The number of Republicans attending these daily press conferences appear to be increasing – on day four, there were ten congressmen; now on day six, there were seventeen including Senators Mike Lee (R-UT) and Jeff Sessions (R-AL).
The congressmen present insisted that none of the Republicans in the Senate or House wanted a government shutdown, but their claims were undercut somewhat by a coincidental rally of conservative Americans for Prosperity activists assembling just after the press conference.
Barbara Davis of Hartford County, Maryland
Indeed, many of the activists encouraged the prospect of a government shutdown, arguing that if deep cuts were not going to be made a government shutdown would be a good thing.
“I would like the government to stop spending. It’s out of control – they’re showing us absolutely no respect. I’d love them to shutdown,” said Valerie Shirley of Crownsville, Maryland. “I’m a Republican… [when congressmen say they don’t want a shutdown it] is political. The people will be happy that the federal government is closed, believe me.”
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