We should be focused on passing a budget that funds the government, not voting for the 43^rd time on a pointless exercise to repeal or defund the healthcare law. As an appropriator, it is very problematic for me to see how little focus there has been on the actual issues of how and at what level we fund our government.  Congress has two responsibilities: to pass a budget on time and pay our bills on time. 

A CBS poll this week found that 80% of Americans think it is inappropriate to shut down the government to achieve goals during budget negotiations.  The U.S. Chamber of Commerce released a joint letter representing 236 organizations urging the House to pass a continuing resolution and ensure uninterrupted funding of the government.  The Wall Street Journal called the Republican strategy a “kamikaze mission,” that would not turn out well. 

This vote on discretionary spending will not stop the Affordable Care Act, which is funded almost entirely through mandatory spending, according to a Congressional Research Service report requested by Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK).  Even Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said so in August (“I’m all for stopping Obamacare, but shutting down the government will not stop Obamacare,” The Hill 08/13/13).  Senators McCain (R-AZ), Senator Coburn (R-OK), and Senator Jim Inhofe (R-OK) have also voiced opposition to a strategy that uses political brinkmanship and pushes us towards a government shutdown on October 1^st. 

The Affordable Care Act was passed by both sides of Congress, signed by the President, and ruled constitutional by the highest court in the nation.  President Obama was reelected by American voters who knew he would implement the Affordable Care Act in his second term.  Portions of the act have already been implemented – including popular ones such as preventative services for seniors, allowing Americans up to age of 26 to stay on parents’ plan, and stopping insurance companies from denying coverage to those with pre-existing conditions.

The district I represent in Texas has one of the highest rates of uninsured Americans in the country.  In Hidalgo County, 38.1% of individuals are uninsured.  In Webb County, the number is 36.8% and in Starr County, it is 35.8%.  And in the State of Texas, 6.1 million people or 23% percent of the population are uninsured, including 1.2 million children.  For the first time, the Affordable Care Act will provide many of the constituents of the 28^th District with access to affordable, quality health care. 

These continuing resolutions are harming our economy. A government shutdown would deny pay to nearly 1.4 million active duty military personnel, put on hold housing loans to low and middle income families in rural areas and start up business loans for farmers and ranchers, and force taxpayers to shell out $150 million a day to pay for losses. 

We should not continue to kick the can down the road.  Congress needs to take real steps to solve our budget uncertainty on a long term basis, not create a situation where every few months the Republican Majority manufactures a crisis that threatens to shutdown the government.  It is bad for Wall Street and it is bad for Main Street.”