have taken the deal that i offered you back then. which would have dealt with our long-term deficit problems, would not have impeded growth as much, would have really boosted confidence. but at that time i think house republicans had just taken over, they were feeling their oaths but at that time, house republicans had just taken over. they were feeling their oats. they were thinking, we don't have to compromise. we came pretty close to default. we saw the impact of that. thought that they would have learned a lesson from is, we i did, which can't put the american people and the economy through that ringer again.

that's the reason why i have been very clear, we are not going to negotiate run the debt ceiling. that has to be dealt with in a reasonable fashion. often hear people say, in the past, it has been dealt with all the time. the truth of the matter is, if you look at the history, people posture about the debt ceiling frequently, but the way the debt ceiling off and got past was you would stick the debt ceiling onto a budget negotiation once it was completed. he both figured, well, i don't want to take a bunch of tough votes to cut programs or raise taxes and also have to take a debt ceiling vote. let me do it all at once. which,'t a situation in what if i don't get what i want? i will let us default. that is what has changed. we are not going to do that again, not just for me, but because future presidents,

republican or democrat, should not be in a position where they have to choose between making sure the economy stays afloat and we avoid worldwide catastrophe, or we provide concessions to one faction of one party in one house. let me tell you a lesson i did not learn -- i did not learn a lesson that we should not compromise. i still think we should. there are all kinds of issues we should be talking about. i don't expect to get 100% my way. i'm still very open to having conversations with not just the speaker but any republican. go ahead. >> if you entered into a series of short-term funding bills or a debt ceiling bill, you would be back in the same place with the same members of congress. what has changed -- what will change the political dynamic if you do the short term died -- short-term bills? >> i think what has changed his

they know i'm not budging when it comes to the full faith and credit of the united states, that that has to be dealt with, that you don't pay a ransom, you don't provide concessions for congress doing its job and america paying its bills. i think most people understand that. at a small business the other day, talking to a bunch of workers, and i said, when you are at the plant and you are in the middle of your job, do you ever say to your boss, you know what, unless i get a raise right i'mand more vacation pay, going to just shut down the plant? i'm not just going to walk off the job, but i'll break the equipment. i said, how do you think that would go? they all thought they would be fired. i think most of us think that. there's nothing wrong with asking for a raise or asking for more time off, but you can't

burn down the plant or your office if you don't get your way. well, the same thing is true here. i think most americans understand that. thank you very much, everybody. >> after president obama's news conference, house speaker boehner once again challenge the president for not negotiating over the government shutdown and the debt ceiling increase. his remarks are five minutes. >> good afternoon, everyone. as you all know, i had a phone call with the president of united states this morning. i will say it was a pleasant conversation, although i have to say i was disappointed that the president refuses to negotiate. issue ofomes to the funding our government, the house has passed for bills.

for bills to fund our government and provide fairness to the american people under obamacare. each of those for bills was rejected by the united states senate. under the constitution and our system of government, we asked that they sit down and have a conversation with us about funding the government, keeping it open, and providing fairness to the amerco people under obamacare. under american people obamacare. they have refused to do it. over the last 30 years, dozens of times there have been negotiations over funding our government. all of those negotiations over the last 30 years have net -- have resulted in policy changes. i would remind you that the president of the united states and i sat down in the spring of 2011 to negotiate a funding bill for the government from march all the way through september. negotiation, there were all kinds of policy considerations, and if you recall, the opportunity for

scholarship for kids in d.c. was restored into law. the president's position that, listen, we are not quick to sit down and talk to you until you surrender, is just not sustainable. it's not our system of government. when it comes to the debt limit, i agree with the president. he should pay our bills. pay our bills. i certainly did not come here to shut down the government were default on our debt. when it comes to the debt limit, again, over the last 40 years, 27 times the debt limit has been used to carry significant policy changes that would, in fact, reduce spending and put us on a saner fiscal path. president reagan sat down with tip o'neill in the 1980s. 1990 went out in to andrews air force base and got into a long debate and negotiation with the democrats here in congress.

bill clinton went through this three times in the 1990s. president obama and i sat down in 2011 and had a serious negotiation. while the president today suggested that i walked away from the deal, i would have to remind him that i was in the oval office, along with the majority leader eric cantor, when we, in fact, had an agreement that two days later the president walked away from. in fact, another negotiation in 2011 that resulted in really the largest deficit reduction bill that we have seen here in the last 30 in 2010 when democrats controlled the congress and president obama was in the white house, what happened was a group of moderate democrats in the house wouldn't agree to raise the debt limit without a negotiation. there was a negotiation then amongst democrats over raising the debt ceiling. the long and short of it is there's going to be a negotiation here.

we can't raise the debt ceiling without doing something about what's driving us to borrow more money and to live beyond our means. the idea that we should continue to spend money that we don't have and give the bill to our kids and grandkids would be wrong. this isn't about me and frankly it's not about republicans. this is about saving the future for our kids and grandkids, and the only way this is going to happen is to, in fact, have a conversation. it's time to have that conversation. next month.k, not the conversation ought to start today. is hopeful that whether it the president would democrat leaders here in the congress we can begin that conversation. >> speaker, can you tell us what would you say to military families who have just been denied that benefits due to the shutdown? >> last week, the congress passed the pay our military benefits act. we gave brought a 42 the department of defense to pay --

broad authority to the department of defense to pay. again, tomorrow, the house is going to ask specifically on this. i hope the president will sign it. speaker, the president made clear that he was not noted to go she it. you have made it clear, mr. speaker, that you must negotiate. what happens, in all candor, if it is 11:59 on october 17 and we are not there? thet times like this, american people expect their leaders to sit down and have a conversation. i want that conversation to occur now. >> mr. speaker, the president said today that he would negotiate a temporary deal to open government. >> what the president said today is if there is unconditional surrender by republicans, he will sit down and talk to us. that is not the way our government works. thank you, everybody. leader harryority

reid called on senators -- called also matures to the floor thespoke to lawmakers about effect the government shutdown is having on military families, specifically the suspension of fallenefits for servicemembers. after his comments, republican leader mitch mcconnell countered some of senator reed's points. this is 30 minutes. >> the shutdown of the federal government is affecting more families. this part of my presentation is not something i left for my staff. this is in the press right now.

the families of the five united states service members who were killed over the weekend in afghanistan have been notified they will not be receiving their benefits. normally, relatives within 36 -- that the death gratuities extended to help cover funeral costs and cover immediate living costs until survivor benefits typically taken. the money also helps cover costs for families at dover air force base, witness the return of their loved ones in a flag- draped coffin. butington may be shut down, it is still asking people to go to war. when people realize that they can serve and fight for their country, but their families will get an iou until the shutdown is over, i think they are shocked. i know i am.

example, lance corporal jeremiah collins, 19 years old, was a marine who died saturday while supporting combat operations in afghanistan. he was one of the five killed. including for troop members who with an improvised explosive device. it does not allow for family benefits of the fallen. one senior official said he was disgusted by the predicament. that is where we are. president, i have asked each senator to come to the floor today because it is important that we have an

opportunity to talk about the crisis facing this great nation. this government shutdown is an embarrassment to our nation. not only to the people of america, but around the world. an economic conference in the far east that president obama was to attend, he couldn't because of the government shutdown. who is there pontificating about how bad things are in america? the president of china. that's what he's talking about. america can't pay its bills. the families who lost five love ones had and unbearable loss, but now they are being denied death benefits because of this senseless

shutdown. it is shameful and embarrassing. there are no words to describe the situation. america could fail the families of our fallen heroes. appalling, frightening, everyone can come up with their own description. it's time for us, members of this august body, to stand before the american people and publicly discussed the path forward. unified, asking the speaker to reopen the government, the whole government, not us is of the government. it is bad enough with all the sequestration that has cut the national institutes for health 1.6 billion dollars this year,

and add to that the government shutdown. added to that the second-year us -- a sequestration, another $2 billion from the national institutes of health. this search we have in america disease, there has never been anything like it in the world. the library of congress, never anywhere like it in the world. ,he great library in egypt maybe comparable, but there has never been anything like the national institutes of health. we are going mindlessly forward and catching -- and cutting by billions of dollars. we need to reopen the whole government, not in some piecemeal fashion that further demonstrates to the world we are unable to find real solutions. "government so we can get back to work.

i love the government to do its duty by our military families and every american family. mr. president, quickly, i said it before -- in july of this year, the speaker of the house of representatives and i sat down in his office. i was there. my chief of staff at the -- was there. there.ef of staff of us the speaker wants to figure out a way to go forward. we talked about a number of things. on, he thing he was firm said, it has to be at 2013 levels. i said, i can't do that. i said, it's $70 billion less than the budget we passed a short time ago. the conversation continued. september -- we talked and talked. i spoke to chairman murray, to chairman mikulski.

it was really hard. they had worked so hard to get regular order back in the senate. but like the good soldiers they are, we decided to try to talk to the rest of the caucus and swallow really, really hard because we had the assurance, i had the assurance, that we would now.-- have a clean cr that didn't work. the speaker did not deliver on what he said he would deliver on. so, now the government closes. anotherone thing after coming here. we send it right back. the last thing they sent over was saying, let's go to conference. last tuesday, i sent him a letter.

, i talkedst letter about a very decisive time in my life. i voted for the iraq war. thoughteeks of that, i i had been misled, but regardless of that, that is how i felt. i became an opponent of that war and did everything i could to focus on that war, which was our military subjected to violence, and that's an understatement. thousands were being killed. tens of thousands were wounded. raqisber of iraq is -- i were being killed. it is really hard to demonstrate adequately. life where we my had an opportunity under my

direction to shut the government down. by not funding the war. i made a decision. that is in my letter to the speaker. i did not do that. i, frankly, received a lot of help from around the country, but that's what i did. i don't look back at all. i was trying to tell the but ir, don't do this, said, you've done it and you've asked for a conference. we will go to conference on anything you want to go to conference on. we don't care. first, you have to open the government and allow us to pay our bills. it is in the letter last tuesday. 35 minutes after he got the letter, i called him. he said, i can't do that. for someone to suggest that we have not negotiated is just absolutely wrong, madam president.

$70 billion -- it is the biggest compromise i've ever made in my career as a member of congress, some 31 years. it may not sound like much to some people, but it was really big. my caucus remembers what to do. for someone to suggest to any of my senators that we have not negotiated is simply unfair. to say that we will not negotiate is unfair. i put it in writing. we are happy to conference. you've got open the government. this is unfair, just like these five soldiers killed. (. -- open the government. let's pay our bills. we will negotiate on anything you want to negotiate on. i've spoken to the president,

and i'm certainly not name dropping -- i've told my caucus this several times -- he cannot, the president of the united states, negotiate on paying the bills of this country, the debt ceiling. i think there are senators over here that he has set down and talk to individually and as groups to talk about a budget deal. there were many conversations in the oval office that i attended talking about a budget deal. thingsput in writing that he would be willing to do that, quite frankly, our base is not excited about, but he put it in writing. he is still waiting for the first sentence from the people that he invited to dinner and met with, the first sentence as to what they are willing to do. -- i'm sorry,r

late last week -- by haley barbour and ed gillespie, former chairs of the national there is aparty, time now when republicans have to start being for something, not against everything. arguedon't come here to and badger people. i am happy to talk about .nything senator murray will deliver a presentation in just a little bit. we know how hard she has worked. she has the respect of democrats and republicans. i repeat, when the speaker said he wanted to go to conference last week, we said, good, we will do that. i'm not a one-man show over here. i clear everything with my kosice with rare exceptions before i go marching into the blue. i repeat -- we are ready to go

to conference as soon as the speaker reopens the government and we lose the thread of default. -- the threat of default. he's got to take yes for an answer. you folks have to take yes for an answer. we are just as to sit down. --ay as we were this spring just as happy to sit down today as we were this spring. allow the united states to pay its bills with no preconditions or strings attached. called rulert the so- 14 process later today. differences,ur democrats and republicans, but we should not hold the full faith and credit of this great country hostage while we resolve them. at a later time, senator baucus will talk. i hope he repeats here on the senate floor what he told us in our caucus we just completed --

great nations aren't guaranteed greatness. there have been books written about it. we were talking about one author, a famous author, who talked about how great nations have to meet expectations. we are great today. that doesn't mean we will be forever. how will this country look to the world community if we no longer have the full faith and credit of the united states meaning anything? i hope we can get republican cooperation to move this bill quickly on the debt ceiling. if not, the process could take us right up to the deadline, one day before. i'm optimistic, madam president. my republican colleagues here in the senate will filibuster this bill. i'm cynical by nature. that way, not disappointed as much as those who are optimistic. my friend senator schumer and i

have ongoing issues. he's optimistic about everything. i'm cynical about everything. i am optimistic him even though that is against my nature -- optimistic, even though that is not against my nature, that the republicans will not hold the full faith and credit of the united states hostage freed we need to reopen the federal government now, not 10 minutes before the debt ceiling has gone. we need to get back to the business of protecting the merrick and families, back to the job of legislating. we are not doing anything in this body anymore. this is our job to legislate. it has always been our job, always will be our job. open the government, pay our bills, let's negotiate. it is my understanding, madam president, that this consent agreement has been cleared. we will hear from the republican leader. we will hear at that time from senator mccain for 15 minutes, followed by senators durbin, schumer, murray -- i was told i

could get it so i'm offering it. i ask consent. >> is there objection? that --ed and sent consent that senator mcconnell be recognized. he has time. following his statement, i ask consent that senator mccain be recognized for 15 minutes and senator durbin for 10, schumer for >> 10, and murray for 10. is there objection? >> madame president? i would ask that distinguish minority leader if he would consider modifying his consent request so we could alternate back and forth across the aisle. with that modification, i have no objection. >> after we get this out of the way, you mean? >> madame president, the majority leader asked for a number of democratic senators to speak without any intervening speeches or remarks by

republicans could all i'm suggesting is after -- >> madam president, i say to -- >> after a democrat speaks, republican gets to stick. president, three democrats, to republicans. it doesn't sound too outrageous to me. >> i object. >> the objection is heard. >> ok. so following senator mcconnell, durbin.all upon senator >> madame president? >> the republican leader. >> madame president, i appreciate the comments of my good friend the majority leader. i might say, however, as much as forpreciate his comments, all of us, the real challenge is his relationship with the house and whether or not we can begin the discussion process to get to

an outcome. nobody's happy with the government shutdown, certainly not anybody on this side or anybody on the other side, but i would remind everybody on both sides of the aisle that democratic senators have said repeatedly, obamacare is the law and basically we should get used to it. we have suggested various modifications, some of which enjoyed bipartisan support, but obviously, so far, that's not something our friends on the other side are willing to do. let me also point out to all of you that the budget control act is also the law of the land. negotiation on a bipartisan basis, signed by the president of the united states, and the budget control act is the law of the land. when my good friend the majority leader says he was negotiating

with the house over the cr that was notw was a negotiation -- that was current law. passed on a bipartisan basis, signed by the president of the united states, current law. i think i can pretty safely say that nobody on this side believes that we ought to has reducedw that government spending for two years in a row for the first time since the korean war. at a time when we have a debt the size of our economy, which makes it look a lot like little -- a lot like a western european country could as we go into what -- like asions western european country. as we go into whatever discussions, i would say to my friend that revisiting a law passed on a bipartisan basis that is reducing government spending ought not be a part of

the final outcome. talk, we should. the american people have given us divided government, and when you have divided government, it means you have to talk to each other. 2010 whent 2009 or our friends on the other side had a total hammerlock on all the government. we now have divided government. it means we have to talk to each other and get to an outcome. i think it is far past time to get that done. i hope, given where we are today, that there is adequate get those talks started principally between the majority leader and the speaker, to get us to the outcome that we all want and to get us there soon.

let me just conclude by saying the budget control act is the law of the land. if you believe in reducing government spending, it is working. members and the american people think reducing government spending is a good idea. we have a law in place that is achieving those kinds of results. that's not something, at a time when we have a debt the size of our economy, that we ought to likely -- likely walk away from good i hope my good friend, the majority leader, will, in addition to talking to us, which we appreciate, will talk to the speaker. that is how we resolve this crisis grade ideal before. >> the assistant majority leader? >> madam president, since the beginning of this great nation, 1948 men and women have served in the united states senate.

that service is a singular honor and carries with it an important responsibility. james madison said, "the use of the senate is to consist in its proceeding with more coolness, with more system, and with more wisdom than the popular branch." throughout our history, it was in thiste, many times very room, that took on the most difficult challenges facing america. the creation of the federal judiciary, the abolition of war,ry, decisions to go to and the advancement of civil rights. at each of those moments, skeptics questioned whether there were senators capable of resisting little fresher and whether senators were prepared to leave -- lead a divided nation. colleagues, this is our moment.

this is our chance to bring this nation back from the precipice. we should agree to restore the inctions of government, not a piecemeal fashion, but in an orderly process befitting a great nation. we should spare america's workers and businesses the tragic consequences of a first- ever default on our nation's debt. we should restore the time- honored process of legislating by adopting a bipartisan budget with the house, by considering spending bills on the floor of this chamber and passing appropriation bills in an orderly process. we can vote today, this afternoon, to go to conference on the budget and begin to resolve our differences with the house. if we fail, we know that we will diminish this great body and our weat nation, a nation which

have all taken a solemn oath to serve and protect. so let's agree to restore the functions of government, all of it. i've spoken with many of my colleagues and friends, and they are my friends, on the republican side of the aisle. we share their frustrations on the current situation. each one of you has said to me, we've got to bring this impasse to an end. waiting for the house of representatives to save us is beneath the united states senate. we have our own responsibility and our own opportunity. we can come up with bipartisan senate solutions. we can show the house of representatives the path to end this crisis. why are we waiting for them to show us? let's begin to restore the confidence of the american people in this institution, united states senate. we can fund the government, we can go to conference on the budget, and we can extend our debt of 40. i see my friend of senator

mccain on the floor, and i know he will speak in a moment. over the last year, i've seen moments in the senate where we have defied our cynics and critics. successful bipartisan effort to pass a comprehensive immigration bill, and historic farm bill with farm -- far- reaching reforms, and a bipartisan extension of a student loan program. we came together, and we found common ground. we led as united states senate. now we need to summon the political courage and purpose to find a bipartisan way to meet this challenge. i know that it won't be easy, but i know that we are up to the job. i know that we have an opportunity here that comes once perhaps in a political lifetime, but i want to say this -- what we are dealing with here in the senate is not just another political dustup. this confrontation is of historic proportion. let us not wait on the house to find a solution.

it is our responsibility. solution, i think, is clear. summon the political courage in the sense of purpose. it comes down to us in the united states senate, and throughout our nation's history, it always has. i yield the floor. >> the majority leader? i ask consent that senator mccain be recognized for 15 minutes. everyone else will continue with 10 minutes. >> is there objection? the senator from arizona. >> i ask unanimous consent, if we could return to the normal one side and the other side, as far as speakers are concerned. >> is there objection? >> that is our plan. >> without objection. the senator from arizona. colleagues, i would bring

to your attention to events today that i think deserve our attention. the first one is a story entitled "grand canyon food shortage turns dire." st. mary's food bank delivers to the grand canyon today as the federal shutdown strands thousands of employees inside the park without work and pay. the grand canyon, thousands of people inside the park without food or pay. we are havingion, to have charities deliver food to people who are trapped in the grand canyon. today, "shutdown outrage: military benefits denied to families of fallen troops."

there have been at least five families of u.s. military -- ins killed during afghanistan over the weekend were given a double whammy by federal officials. not only have your loved ones died, but due to the government shutdown, you won't receive a death benefit. you know? the poor rating of congress we 11% -- i have% or , wene i use all the time are down to blood relatives and paid staffers -- shouldn't we as a body, republican and democrat, no matter who we are, shouldn't we be embarrassed about this? shouldn't we be ashamed? what do the american people that deaththey see benefits for those who served and sacrificed in the most honorable way are not even --

their families are not even eligible for death benefits? i'm ashamed. i'm embarrassed. all of us should be. of list goes on and on people, innocent americans, who have fallen victim to the reality that we can't sit down and talk like grown-ups and address this issue. i'm not going to take the full , because frankly i get a little bit emotional, but we started out with a false premise here on this side of the aisle. that was that somehow we were going to repeal obamacare. debate,fter 25 days of including up until christmas eve morning, fighting against obamacare.

that's after a 2012 election where i traveled this country with passion, the first thing saying, the first thing we will do when mitt romney's president of the united states is repeal and replace obamacare, and the american people spoke. somehow, to think that we were going to repeal obamacare, which would have required 67 republican votes, of course, was a false premise, and i think, did the american people great service by convincing them that somehow we could. 70% of the american people, according to a "washington post" ofl this morning, disapprove republicans. they disapprove of democrats as well. they disapprove of the president of the united states as well. , greatle, the chinese role models of democracy, are now criticizing us because of a looming failure where the won't payovernment

its debts both the mastic and abroad. friend, the majority leader, and he is my friend -- we use that word with great abandon around here, but he and i have known each other now for 30 years -- let's find a way to -- i asked my good friend from utah who is a history major , the words of abraham lincoln, charity toward all, malice towards none -- let's find a way out of this. let's find a way that we can sit down. i don't care if it is appointing people. i don't care if it is informal conversations we have been having back and forth. there should be a way out of both of these dead ends that we are in. how is this going to end? we know how it is going to end. we know how it is going to end. sooner or later, the government will resume its functions. sooner or later, we will raise the debt limit.

the question is, how do we get there? if there is anybody who disagrees that we are not going to reach that point, i would like to hear from them. why don't we do this sooner rather than later? why doesn't the senate lead? i have great respect for the butr side of the capitol, i understand the contradictions of that are there and the speaker has. i'm in great sympathy there. why don't we get together? why don't we sit down? this body voted 70-29, i think it was, to repeal the medical device tax. my colleagues want to renounce that voted to cut the budget? why don't we use that as one of the areas where we could reach agreement? what about this issue out there that the mayor can people believe that we are under a different health care system then they are and ours is a better deal than theirs? there are a number of issues we could sit down and negotiate stop, an hour if we will

stop attacking each other and thank you name people's andgrity and honor -- impuging peoples integrity and honor. let's start this afternoon. i don't care who it is or how to shaped. let's sit down and get out of this so that these families whose loved ones just died, just died will receive the benefits, at least, that would give them some comfort and solace in this terrible hour of tragedy could mr. president, i yield the floor. hasajority leader reid stated he will not allow the senate to consider peace legislation, while holding out for a clean funding bill without additional measures. texas republican senator ted cruz followed the senator's remarks to once again reiterate house,n, adopted by the

to pass temporary spending bills for small parts of the government piece by piece. his remarks are just over five minutes. i think the majority leader for his impassioned remarks today. all of us weep for those servicemen and women who have lost their lives in defense of our great nation. i would note that this senate moved to now, today correct the problems that the majority leader described. the house of representatives has passed eight separate bills funding vital priorities of the government. all eight of those bills now sit on the majority leader's desk. this senate has not voted on those bills. to date, the majority leader has not allowed the united dates senate even -- united states

senate even to have a vote on the bills that would fund vital government functions. billf those bills is a that funds the v.a., the department of veterans affairs. it seems to me we are going to applico differences -- political differences, and those differences are not going away anytime soon. we ought to be able to say, regardless of what happens over the battle of the shutdown, our veterans should be beyond politics. we should have bipartisan agreement, let's stand for our veterans. right now, veterans disability payments are not funded. legislations passed to fund it. it was bipartisan legislation with a number of democratic votes in the house, and yet the majority leader has not allowed united eight senate to vote on it. the only thing in the way of funding the v.a. today is the senate voting to do so. it is the objection that the majority leader has raised to

funding the v.a. let me note, the bill that the house passed funding the v.a. is a clean cr on of the v.a. it doesn't mention obamacare. doesn't say a word about obamacare. it simply says our veterans should be beyond partisan politics regardless of the shutdown. , thisesident, let me note body has engaged in bipartisan cooperation already. earlier in the course of this debate, the house of representatives passed a bill to fund the men and women of the military, to pay their paychecks. for weeks, there have been politicians suggesting that if there were a government shutdown, the men and women of the military would not be paid. the house passed a bill, a clean we will fund the men in women of the military, and let me commend my friends on the democratic side of the aisle. let me commend the majority leader. the 54 democrats in this body made the right decision to act

in a bipartisan way and cooperate with the republicans in this body and with the house of representatives. in 24 hours, the bill funding the men and women of our military became law, went to the president, and was signed into law. that is the way it is supposed operate. mr. president, let me ask, if we could work together in a bipartisan manner to say, we're not going to hold the men and women of the military hostage, what can we work together in a bipartisan manner to say, we are not going to hold our veterans hostage? regardless of what happens in the shutdown, let's fund the v.a. now. the house of representatives has passed a bill funding our parks and national memorials. we have seen day after day world war ii veterans coming to the world war ii memorial and facing barricades that the administration has put up, that the administration has expended money to keep them out. the house has passed a bill to fund our parks and our memorials. let me suggest the senate would

only vote, we could open up every park memorial in the country. the house has passed a bill to fund fema. if the senate would only vote, fema could be funded. the house has passed a bill to fund the national institutes of health so that we can provide vital cancer research. the majority leaders of passionately moments ago about the need to fund the national institutes of health. i agree with the majority leader. i would ask the majority leader to withdraw the objection he has raised to funding the nih. let me note, some have disparaged the house cost approach as a "piecemeal" approach. mr. president, let me note that is the traditional means of appropriating and legislating that for centuries this body has done. the v.a. is usually funded just the v.a., not connected to anything else. why would the senate want to hold veterans hostage because of disagreements over obamacare? i don't think we should. i think we should fund the v.a. right now.

why would the senate want to hold our parks memorials hostage? why would the senate want to hold the national institutes of health hostage? why would the senate want to hold federal workers hostage? the house of representatives unanimously passed a bill to provide backpay for federal workers who have been furloughed. let me note, every house democrat who voted voted in favor of that, yet the majority leader has not allow this the vote. i agree with those house democrats. let me urge the senate democrats , stand with your house democrats who voted unanimously in favor of backpay for federal workers. withn work together bipartisan compromise, but we can only do so if both sides come to the table. right now, the house of representatives is working constructively to fund vital priorities, and unfortunately, president obama, the majority leader and senate democrats are

refusing to negotiate, refusing to compromise. that's not a reasonable approach. it's not a path that will lead to resolving this. resolvee come together, this, fund our vital priorities, and at the same time, respond to the millions of people who are hurting because of obamacare, who are losing their jobs, who are pushed into part-time work, or facing skyrocketing insurance premiums, and who are losing their health insurance. we need to answer the call of our constituents. we need to answer the call of teamsters president james hoffa who put in writing that obamacare right now is destroying the health care of millions of working men and women. it is the word he used. i think the united states senate should respond. we should stand with millions of working men and women. we should protect their health care so that the hundreds of millions of americans who have health care right now don't lose it. all of the people across this country are getting letters in the mail saying, you're losing

your health care because of obamacare. we need to listen to them. let's fund our government. let's fund our vital priorities. let's listen to the american people and stop the number one job killer in this country that is obamacare. mr. president, i urge that this body work together in a bipartisan manner to listen to the american people. i yield the floor. >> house democrats met tuesday to assess the government shutdown. after their meeting, they spoke to reporters, saying they believe the house has enough support to pass a clean bill to reopen the government. this briefing is 30 minutes. >> ready? good morning, everyone. we just concluded a democratic attended,eting, well- and once again, democrats, we are waiting to reopen government. this weekend, we had a vote on legislation that passed

unanimously where republicans said they were willing to pay our 800,000 or so furloughed workers, federal furloughed workers, salaries, but not let them go to work. once again, we see the absurdity of this government shutdown by our republican colleagues where they say we should not pass a funding bill for our governmental operations, but yet we should pay those workers who are waiting to go back to work. that's where we are. reportse saw from the on gallup that we have no experience in the last week of this government shutdown, the republican government shutdown, the largest drop in americans confidence in their economy. if our republican colleagues do not think this is serious, shutting down the government intentionally so they can get their way on items that have

nothing to do with budget policy, then they should take a look at what the american people are saying. they are telling us that they have very little confidence that this republican congress will allow the economy to continue to improve. we should be talking about strengthening the economy and building a stronger middle class. instead, we are trying to figure out why republicans won't let us have a vote on reopening our government. some 800,000 of our american workers could go back to work. saying that we are ready to vote. let us vote. let america work. for whatever reason, republican speaker john boehner and our republican colleagues have us aed to allow all 433 of chance to vote on the floor of the house of representatives to reopen our government.

now not one, not to, not three, but some 6-8 independent news organizations which have verified that there are enough votes today in the house of representatives to reopen our government. yet, republican speaker john boehner refuses to allow members of congress to exercise their obligation and to vote to open this government. our house republican colleagues have continued to refuse to negotiate with house democrats to reopen this government. april been trying to get republicans to sit down with us to negotiate on a budget, and they have continued to refuse to even sit down at a conference table to have that conversation. now with government closed, they say they want to negotiate. the time was six months ago. we are asking our republican

colleagues to accept yes for an answer. we are willing to take their budget number to reopen the government, and we know there are sufficient public and colleagues that would join with democrats in the house to reopen our government. not only is this serious, as the drop in consumer confidence has proven, but this is also absurd, as the republicans vote to let not come toaid but work. we hope there is some sanity that prevails in the house and republican speaker john boehner will for once allow republicans and democrats alike to vote on a clean budget that will allow the u.s. government to get back to the business of working. with that, i will yield to our vice chairman, joe crowley, and we are joined today -- we are very pleased to be joined today -- by two colleagues from virginia who happened to represent a good number of those american workers who are interested get back to work, mr. jim moran and mr. gerry connolly.

first, we will go to our vice chairman, joe crowley. >> thank you chairman -- thank you, chairman. as i said before, there are two obligations of congress. one is to pass the budget. the other is to pay our bills. we have failed to do the first, in my republican colleagues are talking about failing to do the latter as well. the last time we were in this predicament two years ago, my republican colleagues were playing with matches. now they are playing with a blowtorch. they know exactly what they are doing. they have a purpose. in fact, one of my colleagues on the republican side of the aisle has said that failing to raise the debt ceiling would, in essence, balance the world's markets. i'm paraphrasing them. what theyutely absurd believe is in the best interest of our country right now. what is in the best interest of our country is to put our government back to work.

get the government up and not play withand a blowtorch on the issue of our national debt. we saw what he did to our economy the last time, the downgrade in our credit rating, how it hurt our economy. we simply cannot even allow this discussion to go further. we need to pass the clean cr and get the government up and running again and passed the clean debt ceiling relief bill and stop taking this uncertainty out of the lives of the american people, and quite friendly, the world. there is enough uncertainty in the world. we have to stop creating these thesede fiscal cliffs, man-made disasters. there's enough going on as it is. let's get on with doing the business of our country. there are so many other issues we need to be concentrating on that we are neglecting because, again, because of these man-made fiscal disasters. with that, i will turn it over to congressman jim moran of virginia. >> thank you, joe.

thank you, xavier. you're going to hear in a moment from my good friend gerry connolly, as well. now that the house has agreed unanimously to pay federal employees for the time that they have been unfairly laid off since day one of the shutdown until whenever it concludes, the justification for preventing them from going to work is even weaker than it has ever been. there is such a compelling argument when you are paying people anyway to enable them to do their work on behalf of the american people. it really blows the mind to that the supposed majority in the house of representatives

would want the federal workforce ,ot being able to go to work and the economic consequences -- is what we want to discuss -- are enormous. in fact, the washington region is going into -- is going to take a very deep cut in its thismy as a result of inexplicable action on the part of the house majority. it is not just the federal employees, obviously, that have been directly affected by this. we have a contracted workforce that is even larger than the federal workforce. everyday day, thousands of those contractors are being put on or, in many cases, having their jobs terminated. many of them work alongside federal employees. those federal employees are not on the job, and they cannot be

either. the agencies that they work for has been shuttered. have been shuttered. so, their contracts are no longer some of them have ongoing contracts and continued to get paid, but many do not. we saw lockheed layoff so many people. it was announced yesterday. this is going to get worse if it does not end. in fact, it is worse. .e can calculate right now we will see these numbers after the fact is realized what a horrible hate -- hit on the economy this action is. contractors cannot get the financing that they need. .ines of credit are drying up

capital is drying up. confidencee loss of on investors with federal contractors has been significantly reduced. beyond the federal employees and contractors, there the rest of the economy. it is dependent upon that federal activity. fact and i referred to the that a percentage of our economy is impacted. more is impacted indirectly. retail,ery stores, restaurants, services. if people do not have a check coming in, or do not know when it will come, they are not going to spend. that is human nature. they are not spending. we are seeing a significant reduction in economic activity.

in crisis -- and was a self-inflicted crisis. at a time when we could have a robust economy. fact, we are holding it back. that when the account coststten of the economic of this inexplicable, unjustifiable action, we will costlier than anyone could have imagined. that is why we need a clean vote thehe house of bash on house floor of the representatives.

it would probably pass by a majority and the president could sign it. end the shutdown. not to do so is almost criminal. given the effect it is having on hundreds of thousands of people's lives. at that, i will turn to my good friend. >> thank you. welcome, everyone, this morning. orwellianin this census call that federal shutdown, there is one brief shining moment of truth. ours on the other side of the aisle actually said, we want respect. we need to get something out of this. we do not know what it is. to defund out

obamacare. now god knows what it is. the other side won the election in 2010 -- in part because of uncertainty. wasawful it was there uncertainty about the bush tax cuts and what would happen to them. they created a terrible uncertainty and terrible fact -- affect for the economy. you need more of it. we are seeking it. we saw one of the largest declines in recent memories. 2011, when we face a similar kind of uncertainty, created again by them, between the third and fourth quarter, he lost $2.4 trillion. including $800 billion in value.

that is what they are willing to risk. it affects businesses. my district, history, all across the u.s. it is not just the federal air. -- it is not just the federal sector. because of the uncertainty being the servicesall of that are provided, this is reckless. it is damaging to our country. ours going to affect competitive posture and it will affect ordinary lives. it must stop. take we get ready to questions, i have been informed that earlier this morning speaker boehner responded to a reporter's question about the -- there is a clean

budget. we could reopen the doors to government. is -- doodoo.ng we have americans who are suffering. they cannot go to work or they are working without pay. speaker knows that the votes exist. that is his response. it is time to stop gameplaying. speaker boehner, you have the votes to pass a clean bill. you yourself had agreed to would on the floor when you had your negotiation with majority leader harry reid in the senate. he backed away from that. you if you'rest

not willing to abide by your own negotiation agreement. the question of why you will not let america that to work and -- weur government reopen are about to face in the next week and half the possibility watching as we tell the world we are not willing to pay off the debt, is assisting with the speaker of the house will run the show? we certainly hope not. there are consequences. we will take questions. boehner --dea that is votes are not there, there any thought of where that kind of researcher might come from? >> it is possible since he

controls what comes to the floor. he is saying the vote is not there because i will not let it either. prerogative to allow theean c.r. to come to floor. that might be real definition of what he said when he said the boats are not there. you will not let them be there. votes are not there. you will not let them be there. enabledoehner is either the tea party faction of his you might be suggesting now, it is part of his plan. it is not so much the tea party shutdown as it is speaker boehner's shutdown. ,ither way, the responsibility he has the ability to have a clean vote on the c.r.

they could do it any moment now. that there are enough votes between the democratic caucus and a handful of the majority to pass that bill. you simply will not let that come to the floor. >> did you want to add anything? russiahe 19th century in doubt get the benefit of to the czar. the expression used was, "only bizarre new -- if only the czar knew." czar who wase behind it. he is in charge. he has enabled, if not encourage, this reckless behavior. it is time for him to be the speaker, the title of which he possesses. >> i want to add that i think

house,ublicans in the partisan politics impacting policymaking, for a party to the date to a democratic body what will happen is when you undermine and destroy what the founding fathers set up for us. rule, you can read any page of the house rules that governs the house of representatives, you'd never find a mention of that role. you can read the entire constitution and never once found a mention of the so-called rule. it is not a rule. republican party dictate. come fornot let anyone a vote. the republican party decides they will not let that measure come up for a vote.

here we have party politics dictating what america's democracy will do. at some point you have to put country before party. onope is reading the news how america's confidence in the economy has eroded. there was a proposal for a -- tax. it was rejected. why is there a focus on party? >> first, there is no discouragement. to resolve the budget issues at some of the bigger issues. to have to negotiate with a gun at your head makes no sense to

most of us. we are willing to have hombre stations that lead to negotiation agreements. remember, john boehner negotiated this agreement to have a clean vote on the budget resolution. he walked away from that agreement that he had with senate majority leader harry reid. that is why we have this government shutdown. democratsid and accepted the republican proposal to extend operations of government. it was republicans who could not take yes for an answer and walked away from their own negotiated agreement. when john boehner walks away from what he was willing to do, he negotiated this. a was willing to impose partisan rule to dictate what will happen in the house of representatives. you could see the level of dysfunction we have in the house of representatives. we could talk to our republican colleagues. we can does walk away from those negotiations.

i'm not sure had to say this, the dishonesty of it, to not accept what you have offered when it has been accepted, he will not negotiate with folks. boehner will sit there and reach an agreement and then walk away from it and say you cannot put it up for a vote because of a partisan rule i determined you cannot put up for vote, it is tough to make any progress. to says an overstatement there was a formal proposal. i do not think there was. there was an attempt of so- called moderate republicans. where do you stand? is, act of the matter group of republicans met with speaker boehner. attold them in that meeting you would not bring anything like that to the floor. we were going to close up the debt ceiling and he had brought the two together.

they get rebuffed by their leader. that peter king is correct. there are republicans willing to work with democrats to pass a temporary c.r. that we know. you are king and charlie said a clean c.r. would pass the house. i think it would pass with more votes if the bill came to the floor. we talked about this before. refusal, no longer the tea party republicans, it is clearly the speakers doing. he is shutting down this government i not allowing for a can to pass of both parties continue to discuss and to negotiate the passage of a full budget for our country. >> we are eight days into this.

october 17 deadline is coming up. how does this end? >> go ahead. >> none of us have an answer. propose it. it is mind-boggling to think that the congress of the united states would actually even seriously and sitter allowing our debt to default and undermined the confidence that the american dollar has been yearso generate four 200 and the kind of economic implosion that would occur if we go past the point of being able to pay interest in principal on our outstanding debt, that is the on comprehension. and yet, there are still members of the house majority that

comprehend that and do not seem to be particularly concerned about it. we do not know what will happen. it will be bad. it will probably get worse than we can possibly imagine. there is an obvious answer. let's pass a clean funding bill for the government and let's pass a debt ceiling increase so we are good on our debt. i commend chris matthews book. i just finished reading it. p documents in their that you could've had a more conservative president than ronald reagan. staunch,'ve been a liberal democrat of the house. they came together on debt. byy raise the debt ceiling under ronald reagan we

raise the debt ceiling 18 times. yet for a thank you note from ronald reagan. tip supported ronald reagan in a tax increase one year after his reagan revolution because it was hemorrhaging red ink. he needed a tax increase. he got it. they save social security for another generation in that compromise and it worked out. he worked together on a lot of policy issues. this relentless opposition to the president hurts the country. we have a loyal opposition that is healthy, but i commend the example of tip o'neill and ronald reagan.

two very different ideological tents. but they came together because they understood how important it was. -- it is not as if he is -- [laughter] play.treet has able to i think the business community has a role to play. people who the republican caucus have respect for. i know that they are waiting in. tune orlly need to fine republican caucus if they have not started it already. maybe their constituents want their rates to go up on the home mortgage. maybe the one interest rates to

go up to buy a new car or to pay their bills on their credit card. my constituency does not want that. my constituent once a government to get up and running again. they pay their taxes. they want to see this government working for them. that is what they are demanding. they do not want a shutdown. it has never happened before and it cannot happen. it is unprecedented. the effects would be catastrophic on the world. those outside groups need to weigh in. in a way that they haven't done before. make sure that they understand what the consequences are. this morning house republicans leaders announced they will be bringing to the

floor legislation that they call a bipartisan group to negotiate on all of the issues. i'm wondering if you have any thought. again.t not again. oh my gosh. wow. we know how well that worked when we did the supercommittee. having served as a member of the so-called supercommittee, there was nothing super about it. it is another way to get out of doing what you should. born on that supercommittee was sequester. we were told by the congressional budget office that this nonpartisan guide to any legislation you are talking about, cbo, the sequester will cost us billions of jobs.

is that what republicans want? sequester that will lead to millions of americans out of work? there's no reason we cannot get our work done. we do not need a supercommittee. the votes exist right now. pass a clean budget bill. i think all of us here would say the vote exists to keep america from defaulting for the first time on paying its previous debts. republicans voted for this. now they're saying they do not want to pay for it. they were on record voting for this. to say that they won't and jeopardize the interest rate that someone is paying on their family that that dissent their child to college and had to take out a student loan and the interest rates on that loan will balloon, it is outrageous and reckless and irresponsible for anyone to say that we do not have the votes to

move forward to do a ronald reagan did 18 times. americans want to get to work. if my republican colleagues would put themselves in the shoes of the average american, we would have a boat today. the government would be back in operation. we would not be risking the likelihood of american families who are figuring out how to survive the current interest rates on their home or student loans or other car loans. this is reckless. anothert need supercommittee that is not super to have members of congress do the job that they were elected to do in the first place. respond to some questions. that is that you do not need to have another committee created. when in fact, they complained about the fact that the senate had passed a budget. the senate passed a budget.

the house republicans passed a budget. they point out for ease the budget, first of all. concentrate on passing the rest of the appropriations bill. there is a way of doing this without re-creating the remaking of government we do not need to -- there's a way doing this without re-creating or remaking the government. we do not need to do that. to go badhreatening on america's debt. we do not need to do that. they just need to appoint their conferees to the budget. no.o the answer is you'll not participate in any committee? budget andd pass a we can get american bills paid we do what ronald reagan and others have done, and that is to

stop using extortion to try to get your way on a social agenda that that make people do not agree with in the first place. it is time to get to work. get up and do what you are paid to do. we are paid to make rod rests and help businesses put americans back to work. we are not paid to shut down the government or default on our past obligations and put our economy and every american family's pocketbook at risk. it is time to get to work. stop playing games with their own party. a hillublicans vote on that lets the government get back to work and our economy moving forward. we created 7.5 million jobs in the last three plus years. we could do better if republicans were not doing this every two months. thank you. >> thank you, everybody. [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2013] [captioning performed by national captioning institute]

>> the house rules committee debated pieces of legislation related to the government shut down. it was later debated on the house floor. the first one deals with paid government employees. the second is a were to discussion the government shutdown and to reduce the deficit. the third includes certain faa funding. this is an hour and 10 minutes. tothis committee will come

order. thank you for joining us today. with us againis today. thank you for being here with us. divine guidance, low we take your presence as enough? -- will we take your presence as enough? >> we will take that. >> the rules committee will consider two important pieces of legislation designed to address the current government shutdown and looming debt issue. the first of these bills would appropriate the funds necessary to pay the essential federal employees who have continued their work during the shutdown. these essential, men and women, have earned their paycheck and they deserve a right for us to act on this legislation to ensure that they are paid on time. secondly, the committee will consider legislation to establish a bipartisan working

group on deficit reduction and economic growth. this is literally a group that would be given the authority and the responsibility to make sure that we solve the problems to end the government shutdown and to work in you daily. this group would consist of 10 numbers of the house of representatives and 10 members of the senate. newbie represented by six from our side, six republicans, and six democrats in the senate and for minority members. they would be appointed no less than one day after the enactment of this legislation i would need to immediately to provide , the spendings levels for 2014. changes to the discretionary debt limit and reforms for the programs -- obviously this

committee, this group would be a group of bipartisan members who are designed to get this country back on track. it is important that we do this because as the current limitations are taking place, we are simply talking past each other rather than talking to each other and rather than working with each other in the best interest of the american people. many our nation faces serious challenges that require leaders from both sides of the aisle working together. they need to have a process to sit down and look each other in the eye. continuallyhave asked the senate majority leader and the president to negotiate with us. we know that up to now that is not working well. while this agreement exists, im here to day and confident that a meaningful negotiation can and

the government shutdown and adjust our nations problems and debt. i will tell you that i think the american people should take notice to what we are attempting to do. our president is different from his treatise essar -- predecessor, not in terms of greatness, but the degree he is willing to sacrifice this nation's greatness for political power where he will not well understood by the constitute of a delineation of powers in the house, senate, and the president. -- is not of his own making. built onion has been the shoulders of prior presidents who have come before havethe vast majority who

showed a capacity, a willingness and a desire to negotiate ofperly with elected members the people, the house of representatives, and the u.s. senate. i believe what we are trying to place is a real distinction upon the house of representatives that we are asking the president of the united states and the american people to understand that we solvee that real leaders problems. they do not go from crisis to crisis. as president of the united states, he should provide leadership, and that includes negotiating with people come even someone that you disagree with. that is the mark of a leader. that is why we are here today. before i welcome the two distinguished gentleman that are here for presentations, i will turn to the gentlewoman from new

york. >> thank you. i appreciate that. when it comes to leadership, we have not gotten any at all from the house of representatives. i expected better. another supercommittee for crying out loud. what happened to the last one. handsust threw up their and said, we cannot do another thing. this is leadership. the american people -- what they know is that the government is not working. they cannot get what they need to get done. all we need to do what we should have done is take the senate clean c.r.

i hope we do not see that again. the pressure is certainly mounting. i'm sure you're aware of that. they said they would welcome the opportunity to vote for that c.r. give us an opportunity. we have not had that here for quite a long time. curiosity about the piece that passed unanimously on retroactive pay is being held by a republican senator. no action has been made on that. i think it is unconscionable. it is almost criminal. it flies in the face of what we are supposed to be doing.

it hundred thousand people who work in the federal government have no idea whether they will be paid or not. everyone asked the most logical thing to be asked -- if you're going to pay them later, let them work now. i do not know how long the charade will go on for her. i really do regret that we are and given two chances on the floor the rules committee for questions to bring up the c.r. and pass it. it does not need to go back to the senate. the president can sign it today. we are grown-ups here. we know what we are doing. none of you i believe could explain to people back home what it is you are doing here. it does not seem to be working

well. let's get people back to work. let's get the government going. -- what the real things about this not a was what comes up in the house. there is the decay of the american society. let's put a stop to the charade. let's put that c.r. on the floor. that we willine put another supercommittee out there. there is no end point to this committee. it could just meet and come up with no solution. i yield back the balance of my time. >> the gentlewoman yield to back her time and i appreciate her discussion. for some bit of clarity, i would

offer that i believe what the gentlewoman characterized is correct that there is a republican senator gentleman from texas who is holding up the say iwhich i would understand because what he is attempting to do is to amend the bill to add up all of the other piece parts of the bill that the senate majority leader is holding up getting people back to work and that he would recommend it in one package and make those votes occur in which the senate is being held from. the bill that the gentlewoman reference is what happens after we resolve the matter, which means it would be after there is an agreement. it is not like that is holding up anything. in fact, when he is trying to do is to get people back to work and have the senate to vote on it as opposed to being obstructionist and not having them vote to get that nih and other bills that we have passed.

get those people back to work. essential or not, they are part of our government. they give people services. job.ed them back on the i appreciate the gentlewoman's comments. we want to welcome two distinguished gentleman's today from the appropriations committee. they are here to talk about hj res 89. welcome. always, you would be considered expert witness is an men who represent your committees. the gentleman from florida, please make sure the microphone is on. the gentleman is recognized. chairman.ou, mr.

esteemed members of the rules committee, i'm here today to represent hj res 89. it fulfills a responsibility we have as members of congress providing on-time pay for federal employees who have been working throughout this government shutdown. i'm here to ask for an appropriate rule on this legislation to allow for consideration on the house floor . i will summarize the bill before you. it ensures that the personnel who have been working for the federal government throughout this shutdown are compensated for their time. over the past eight days, these men and women have put in countless hours of work, and service to this nation. we saw the capitol police run into harms way in the line of duty. this bill ensures that they take him a paycheck. -- take home a paycheck.

supervise critical services for our people and protect businesses from suffering unduly and to lend a helping hand to some of the most vulnerable citizens. just like everyone else, they have mortgages to pay and utility bills and mouse to feed. -- mouths to feed. these men and women deserve to be paid on time. it has been the goal of appropriations committee to provide the time and continued pay of our federal workforce. the bills enacted before the fiscal year. i hope we will not have to come to this point again. i believe that most parties can agree that this bill is a step that must be taken, just as we united this week and to authorize a retro active pay for the furloughed employees on a unanimous basis. the men and women for

this important bill. i urge adoption on the house for today. >> thank you for being here today and your insistence to get this bill quickly done. i've also want to welcome your colleague and my dear friend, the gentleman from new york. he is recognized. >> thank you, mr. chairman. no one can argue against essential employees. i wish we were here to consider a bill that would open the entire government. pay alll would essential employees across the government as they would normally be paid. this bill will provide some certainty for our federal employees. or is an easier and better method of accomplishing this goal. this committee should be providing a rule for consideration of the clean senate continuing resolution, which would be open -- which

would be to reopen the government immediately. the shutdown is still causing many problems for americans that depend upon federal agencies for assistance and protection. within the subcommittee that i am the ranking member of, the shutdown requires that small almost twoto for low thirds of its workforce. the agency has had to shut down almost all of its alone row grounds for our nation's small businesses, including loan programs for veterans, women owned businesses, small businesses located in underserved areas. ,ithin the federal judiciary evan a funding to continue operations for a couple of weeks. however, once that time is up, they will be unable to fulfill the constitutional duty to uphold the right of --

employees down to 22. it is difficult for the agency to perform its duty. this will clearly increase the risk. the irs has been forced to furlough most of its workforce. they wished and question will tax reform -- they wished and washable tax reform's -- quest ionable tax reforms. all of these agencies need to their duties that are essential to american consumers. a clean c.r. will do that. tonow that this is no time be funny, but i think we were to

take one bill at a time and maybe in 2025 before we reopen the government. we can do it in one game and talk about the rest -- and -- in one go and talk about the rest. >> i'm delighted that you are here. dear friend and colleague and a good man. i appreciate you both being here. i understand the issue and i appreciate you both. the gentlewoman from north carolina is recognized. >> thank you. thank you to our colleagues for being here. i have no questions, but i appreciate their work and effort on this. i yelled back. >> the gentlewoman -- i yield back. >> the gentlewoman yields. she has no questions. the gentleman from utah.

i yield back. >> the gentleman yield back. the gentleman yield back his time. the gentleman from oklahoma is recognized. it is short and to the point. i will follow their example and yield back. >> [inaudible] >> the gentleman has no questions. yields back. the gentleman from georgia is recognized. no questions.has the gentleman from colorado. no questions. the gentleman from orlando,

florida. >> [inaudible] >> thank you for being here. i appreciate you taking the time to present your ideas. i wish you the best for a beautiful day. other convoy is here. here.her convoy is >> i have one question. if you say i am responsible for the practice room is cold -- >> the room is the perfect aperture to the chairman. -- temperature to the chairman. [laughter] if you seek to change it at any time -- >> i was born on a tropical island. >> the gentleman sees me every morning. i consider that a favorable comment when you are from dallas, texas. thank you.

this ends the portion of that hearing hj res 89. i will call up the deficit reduction economic growth for 2013. i recognize the gentleman from andland, dear friend ranking member. i'm delighted that you are here. you appearwhen before us, we are delighted with anything you have. the gentleman is recognized. >> thank you, mr. chairman. it is good to be here. i want to commend the committee on the legislation you have discussed. i will make sure that people who are working, like the capital police, get paid on time. i commend the unanimous vote on saturday to make sure federal employees should not be penalized for actions beyond

their control. i thought that was the right and to do. -- the right thing to do. making sure we pay all of the federal employees on time and -- employees at all agencies make sure they can go to work. i think the american people are puzzled about the fact that we will do the right thing and make sure the albeit compensated after this period of time. they are puzzled why they do not have the go back to work today. that is within our power to do if you are so good to let us have a vote. it would reopen the entire government. i would urge the body to do that. the speaker has it in his power. this committee took away the right at the lungs to every member -- democrat or republican

-- where we are in a disagreement between the house and the senate. they have the right to call up the senate bill. they took away that right from every member engaged exclusively to the republican leader. he has used it to keep the government shutdown by refusing to bring up that bill. mr. chairman, let me talk about the other bill before us. i will remind every member here -- and you have been any lot of hearings -- that the democrats in the house and the senate have been trying to have a negotiation on the budget since the beginning of this year. in this house, we passed a budget in march. i see some friends from the budget committee here. they know that. the senate also passed a budget.

the regular order in which the speaker called for said that the house and the senate should appoint negotiators to work out the differences between those budgets. the speaker has refused to appoint budget negotiators. that is a fact. i introduced a resolution in april calling upon the speaker to appoint house budget negotiators. he refused to do it. we tried three times in the house to get a vote to appoint in with theto go senate on the budget. -- senate on 18 occasions the senate majority leader and the chairman of the house of the senate budget to midi tried to get consent to appoint budget negotiators. that is a -- the senate budget committee tried to get the consent to appoint budget negotiators. that is a fact. senator mccain said it was

senate republicans to be blocking budget negotiators. after all, republicans have been calling for years on the senate to pass a budget. the pass legislation saying no budget, no pay. thethey went on to block appointment of negotiators of both the house and senate and not telling the american people when they said no budget, no pay, they do not mean we should have a federal budget. guesthouse budget and a separate senate budget. -- just a house budget and a separate senate budget. blockeaker of the house the appointment of negotiators. republicans blocked the appointment of negotiators. the clock ticked. a conference committee

cannot report if you do not to the committee. the clock ticked and we caught up against the wall. the government shutdown and the debt ceiling for -- there was a negotiation. the speaker of the house on national tv on sunday told the public that he had a negotiation with the senate democratic leader, harry reid. he picked up the phone. he had a discussion. they had a negotiated agreement. what was the agreement? that the democrats would except the lower sequester -- accept the lower sequester for a short amount of time in exchange for the speaker agreeing not to have extraneous, unrelated provisions to keeping the government open. they had negotiation and an agreement.

that is what the speaker said. then he said, he could not keep his agreement. he had a faction within the house republican caucus that demanded in order to keep every topic in bash government open, we would have to start to shut down of -- in order to keep the government open, we would have to shut down -- that brings us to where we are now. the irony now is that we do have the votes to meet of the open the entire government if the speaker with what it to a vote. if he has any doubt about it, there is a simple way to find out. after saying you do not want to negotiate on the budget for month after month, you come up with this provision to date -- call it whatever you want. the last supercommittee did not

turn out so well. after three months, it produced nothing. now here when we are in a government shut down, when we are about seven days from defaulting on our debt obligations, all of a sudden let's create another committee. because you do not want to have that negotiation. has been president clear. we want to negotiate. we are not going to negotiate away the full faith and credit of the united states. i would hope that we all agree it is nonnegotiable. we do nothing keeping the government open is something that is negotiable. -- whatout it this way if the president of the united states said this? i will veto a debt ceiling.

i will veto it to -- unless house republicans agree to my budget. the president's budget. what if the president said i will veto the debt ceiling bill and i will refuse to pay our bills on time unless house republicans adopt a senate budget. you would say that is absolutely outrageous. you would say that is an abuse of power. you would be right. what housectly republicans are doing now. they are threatening to not pay -- unlessime, bills you get to reduce the deficit the weight you want to do it or seek other policy changes. position.ur our position is yeah, we want to

negotiate. there is a house budget and senate budget. we negotiate between the two budgets. that is the conversation we should have. house budget reduces the deficit in a certain way. we disagree with lots of things. the senate democratic budget reduces the deficit in a different way. approach in aed combination of targeted cuts. break inertain tax order to help reduce the deficit in a balanced way. the laces the sequester which -- it replaces the sequester. so, the senate has a budget and the president has a budget and house republicans have a budget. we should negotiate those two budgets. .hat is a conversation

the conversation you are tiny it into is in exchange for them agreeing to it every member should do him a which is pay billy -- pay the bills on time, mr. president, do it our way. when it comes to government shutdown, we will keep the government open if you agree to our way on the affordable care act. that is not a negotiation. that is taking hostages and demanding that you get your you'reyour way or else not going to release those hostages. we all know how dangerous it is due hold the full faith and credit of the u.s. hostage. even in the process of setting up a committee, fake negotiation. i could not believe my eyes when i read this. is a group on

deficit reduction and economic growth and gives the working group its charter. it tells you what you can look at. ok. overall discretionary spending. we have been trying to do that. we want to replace the sequester. had numerous proposals to give it. never an up or down vote. it's as changes in the statutory limit to public debt -- that is something that should not be negotiable in terms of whether we pay our bills on time. then it says reforms in direct spending programs -- as we have said, we should look at direct spending programs and our proposal to replace the sequester and get rid of excessive agricultural subsidies . there are other things we can

look at. but that is it. guess what is missing? charter for the sham negotiations, this committee closing aeven discuss taxable for the purpose of reducing the deficit. imagine that? deficit reduction. you cannot talk about closing a tax loophole to help reduce the deficit. any is a farce by definition. i think the members of this committee know that. there are two sides to the equation when it comes to that. that has been the debate for years and years now. we have argued that we should reduce the long-term deficit to a combination of targeted, smart cut and cutting special interest tax rakes. tax breaks for high income individuals.

we want to close special loopholes for hedge fund owners. but the way this is set up, you ofnot do that is part achieving deficit reduction. it is not listed among the things this committee can consider. that is a sham. when the republicans want to stop holding the full faith and hostage, wee u.s. would love to do what we have been trying to do, which is have a budget negotiation. that negotiation on the budget when it takes place cannot be done in a way that you eliminate one half of that deficit reduction. that maybe our colleagues

would put some things that would provide a path forward. this is not it. the path forward is pretty clear. allow democracy to work its bill. the housee today in of representatives and the lights can go on in the federal government tonight. the president is waiting for that bill. thank you. >> i appreciate the gentleman appearing today and his thoughtful comments. the rest of the story as sometimes we have heard, i do not intend to tell it today, but i recognize that the differences between our parties are probably when chilean dollars in spending and $1 trillion in taxes. trillion in spending and lion in taxes. it is a wide goal.

attempting to is the majority leader and attempting to work through a process in another way and that is to empower the members -- by the way, i am not nancy pelosi the democrat leader. i haven't even spoken with her. you would be one of the first persons i would put on this conference. i would trust your ability to work in a collegial manner and in a way that represented thoughtful ideas about how to resolve the differences as opposed to perhaps more public speakers like senate majority leader and the speaker of the house. i think what we are trying to do is empower people to get something done as opposed to putting them into a process that would not work.