Congressman Walden STILL Opposes Bipartisan Solution To Reopen Government and Pay Our Bills

(WASHINGTON DC) - Today Congressman Greg Walden clung to irresponsible, reckless dysfunction until the bitter end. As a bipartisan group in the U.S. Senate and House Democrats worked on a reasonable solution to reopen the government and prevent a national default, Congressman Walden voted against the commonsense compromise and stood with the Tea Party in trying to propel our economy off a cliff.

Moments ago, Democrats in the House finally got what they have wanted since the beginning: a commonsense vote to end to the Republicans’ three-week-old shutdown and a bipartisan solution that pays our bills, and begins negotiations to address the country’s budget in a balanced way.

“Even as others broke ranks and chose the middle ground, Congressman Walden clung to bitter, reckless partisanship until the very end – and voted to continue the shutdown and default on our debt,” said Emily Bittner of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “After nearly three weeks of pain for Oregon because of Congressman Walden’s shutdown, and with our economy perilously close to the edge of a cliff, Congressman Walden still refused to work across the aisle and support a bipartisan, commonsense solution – and voters will reject that recklessness.”

Congressman Walden Voted Against a Bipartisan Compromise Plan that Will Re-open the Government and Avert a Catastrophic Debt Default. Just days before the U.S. government could have defaulted on its obligations due to Congressman Walden’s brinksmanship, he voted against a bipartisan compromise that will re-open the federal government and avert a catastrophic debt default. According to the New York Times: “Under the agreement, the government would be funded through Jan. 15, and the debt ceiling would be raised until Feb. 7. The Senate will take up a separate motion to instruct House and Senate negotiators to reach accord by Dec. 13 on a long-term blueprint for tax and spending policies over the next decade.” [HR 2775, Vote #550, 10/16/13; New York Times, 10/16/13]

House Republicans Have Voted Sixteen Times Against Efforts to Re-Open the Government. Following the government shutdown, House Republicans voted sixteen times against efforts to vote on a clean government funding resolution by allowing consideration of the Senate-passed continuing resolution. Of these votes, the New York Times wrote: “So far, however, there has been little tangible headway. Part of the problem is that moderates are behaving a bit too moderately. They have yet to vote with Democrats on procedural maneuvers that could force the hand of the Republican leadership or to sign a petition Democrats are circulating that would require a vote on a short-term spending bill to reopen the government if a majority of House members signed. They are unwilling to defy their leaders to that extent.” [H Res 370, Vote #509, 10/02/13; HJ Res 70, Vote #512, 10/02/13; HR 3230, Vote #515, 10/03/13; HJ Res 72, Vote #517, 10/03/13; H Res 371, Vote #519, 10/04/13; HJ Res 85, Vote #521, 10/04/13; HJ Res 75, Vote #523, 10/04/13; H J Res 77, Vote #527, 10/7/13; HJ Res 84, Vote #529, 10/08/13; H Res 373, Vote #531, 10/08/13; HR 3273, Vote #533, 10/08/13; HJ Res 90, Vote #536, 10/09/13; HJ Res 79, Vote #539, 10/10/13; HJ Res 76, Vote #541, 10/11/13; HJ Res 380, Vote #543, 10/11/13; HJ Res 80, Vote #547, 10/14/13; New York Times, 10/07/13]

Republican Shutdown Cost the Economy $24 Billion. “S&P said today the impact of the impasse was worsening by the day and had shaved at least 0.6 percent off of fourth-quarter growth, taking $24 billion out of the economy.” [Bloomberg, 10/16/13]

…Even After House Republicans Shutdown the Government For Weeks and Inflicted Serious Pain on Working Families, The Final Deal “Yielded Virtually No Concessions to the Republicans.” “Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the majority leader, and Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader, announced the completion of the agreement shortly after noon, and the Senate Republicans who had led the push to shut down the government unless President Obama’s health care law was gutted conceded defeat and promised not to delay a final vote. […] The deal, with the government shutdown in its third week, yielded virtually no concessions to the Republicans, other than some minor tightening of income verifications for people obtaining subsidized insurance under the new health care law.” [New York Times, 10/16/13]

· Headline: Republicans Shut Down the Government for Nothing [The Atlantic, 10/16/13]