Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) released the following statement regarding the impending government shutdown, a direct result of Senate Democrats’ refusal to compromise and pass the clean continuing resolution (CR) that was adopted by the U.S. House of Representatives on September 19th:
“Nearly two weeks ago, House Republicans fulfilled their promises to the American electorate by delivering and passing a short-term CR that funds the government’s operations while legislators wrap up negotiations on remaining appropriations bills.
“Unfortunately—but unsurprisingly—radical leftist Democrats in the Senate have chosen to reject and block this crucial legislation to keep the government running, all in the name of unrealistic partisan demands.
“While the House-passed CR allocates necessary funding for government operations over the course of seven weeks, the proposed Democrat CR sees an astonishing $1.5 trillion spending increase attached to their bill, which only lasts for four weeks.
“The Democrats’ CR includes a plethora of preposterous provisions, such as the reinstatement of free healthcare and benefits for illegal aliens, the gutting of a $50 billion investment for rural healthcare, and the allocation of billions of dollars to foreign countries for left-wing climate initiatives—all ridiculous partisan demands that would again overburden hardworking, taxpaying American citizens.
“Bottom line: President Trump and Republicans are working tirelessly to protect American citizens’ hard-earned money and domestic interests, whereas Democrats are not.”
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