By Sen. Jim Risch
Senate Democrats continue to pander to the most extreme factions of their party and hold the federal government hostage.
They have repeatedly voted against Republicans’ clean funding proposal and instead are demanding radical measures that would increase federal spending by $1.5 trillion.
Meanwhile, Senator Chuck Schumer says, “Every day gets better for us.”
Who is “us”? It’s not the hundreds of thousands of federal workers who didn’t receive paychecks this week.
It’s not the medical staff caring for our veterans or the moms scrambling to feed their children.
It’s the Democrats, and it is just flat wrong.
This week, I introduced the Shutdown Fairness Act to ensure the federal employees that continue working during a shutdown—including our troops, air traffic controllers, law enforcement, veterans’ home staff, TSA agents, and many more—are paid.
When people work, we have to pay them.
But time and again, Senate Democrats have refused. They’re more interested in appeasing the far-Left than fulfilling the responsibilities they were elected to perform. That’s not leadership, that’s dysfunction.
This isn’t complicated. Federal workers deserve their paychecks. Idahoans deserve a government that’s up and running and meeting their essential needs.
Government should be smaller, more efficient, and less costly, but shutting it down does not help on any level. It’s time to restore order.
My Republican colleagues and I are ready to do that today. The only question is: Are the Democrats?
My offices are open, staffed, and working for Idahoans during the shutdown. If you need assistance with a federal agency, contact my office: risch.senate.gov.
About Jim Risch
Jim Risch proudly represents the people of Idaho in the United States Senate. He currently chairs the Foreign Relations Committee and sits on the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Risch previously served as Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and State Senator. For the latest press releases and constituent services visit risch.senate.gov.
