Rep. Derek Schmidt statement on federal government shutdown

WASHINGTON, DC: Congressman Derek Schmidt (KS-02) tonight issued the following statement, as the Senate for a second time has rejected continuing resolutions to keep the federal government open and operating:

"Nearly two weeks ago, the House passed a bipartisan billto keep the government funded through November 21, while work continues on the full-year appropriations bills. Regrettably, Senate Democrats are insisting on the inclusion of a $1.5 trillion wish list of additional reckless spending instead of passing the House's continuing resolution. This shutdown is entirely the result of those unreasonable demands.

"We must get our fiscal house in order by restraining spending. We made a good start in the policies that were in the reconciliation bill passed this summer, which included $1.2 trillion in spending reductions over the next 10 years. The funding bills that have passed out of the House Appropriations Committee build on this effort by decreasing spending by an additional $30 billion. We can't go back to business-as-usual and leave our children and grandchildren no path out of our country's massive debts.

"I hope this shutdown will be short-lived and the disruptions to federal government services will be minimal. It's up to Congressional Democrats to end their blockade and allow the appropriations process to continue."