U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) appeared on ABC News Live to discuss the ongoing government shutdown and its effects on Americans. During the interview, Britt emphasized the need for bipartisan cooperation to reopen the government.
“We’re ready to open the government today. We have a lot of work to do for the American people, and Republicans stand ready to do that. We have asked our Democratic colleagues to come to the table to open the government so that we can continue to do the work of the American people. I think it’s clear that you can walk and chew gum at the same time, so we can continue to talk about important things in front of the American people while we work to actually fund the government … And I am hopeful that they will come to their senses and realize the people that are being put at stake here,” Britt said.
Britt criticized Democrats for what she described as premature actions leading to a shutdown. “To shut the government down right now is absolutely premature when you’re looking at all of the work we have in front of us for the American people. We’re supposed to be funding the government. And if you want to talk about health care, why in the world would you let WIC, as you just reported, go dry in some areas? That’s for women, infant and children. That’s for the most vulnerable amongst us… It makes absolutely no sense.”
She also pointed out what she views as a lack of seriousness from Democratic leadership regarding appropriations bills: “[I]f you look back to Democrats’ past track record under Chuck Schumer, they didn’t put one appropriations bill on the floor. Not one the entire time that he was leader last year, which led us to a CR at the beginning of this year. If you take the contrast to that, Leader John Thune actually put three appropriations bills on the floor before we even left for the state work period in August. We are leaps and bounds ahead of where they were at this point in time (last Congress) … People are sick of political theater, and especially at the price of America’s most vulnerable. That’s what Democrats have chosen today. That’s what they have chosen for the last eight days.”
In response to federal employees missing paychecks during a shutdown, Britt stated her intention not to accept her salary until an agreement is reached: “I stand with the brave men and women in uniform [who] are not going to get a paycheck as of the beginning of next week. There is no way, if we can’t figure out how to do our job up here, that we should be getting paid while other people are not. And I hope that everyone, but in particular my Democratic colleagues that have chosen this path, this path that is not necessary, should absolutely be withholding their pay as well.”
The full interview with Senator Britt can be viewed online.
