PEORIA, Ill. – Central Illinois’ Republican Congressman says the federal government shutdown has gone on for “too long.”
16th District Congressman Darin LaHood (R-Dunlap) spoke about the shut down in Peoria on Wednesday night while at an event at the Peoria International Airport.
LaHood slammed his colleagues from across the aisle who he says want to “play games” with the shutdown, which is now entering its 4th week.
“Too many of my Democrat colleagues that have voted in the past to open the government now want to play games,” LaHood said. “They want to raise money off it, they want to score political points, they want to use it as political leverage.”
Senate Democrats have held firm in their opposition to the continuing resolution bill passed in the House, while citing a desire to fund extensions to Affordable Care Act tax credits as one reason for the holdout. LaHood says he wants to see the CR passed before discussions of healthcare reforms and the extensions can occur.
LaHood says the longer the shut down goes on, the more concerns he has about what will not get funded. The list includes natural disaster responses, funding air traffic controllers, funding SNAP benefits, and pay for military members.
LaHood says there needs to be a constant urgency to try and pass a bill to reopen the government.
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