WBEZ "Illinois Reps Position Themselves Ahead of Shutdown"

News Article

With a government shutdown looming at midnight Friday night, all U.S. House Republicans from Illinois voted Thursday to fund the government for at least a week. The state's Democrats all voted against the bill.

Republican U.S. Rep. Robert Dold from the North Shore voted for the stopgap spending bill, which he says proves his party wants to avoid a shutdown.

"What we're doing right now is doing all we can to make sure we keep this budget - or the continuing resolution going so we can keep the government up and functioning for the American public," Dold said in an interview following the vote.

The bill would also fund the military through the end of the fiscal year.

The president has promised he would veto that measure, his staff pointing out it contains some $12 billion dollars in non-negotiated cuts.

Evanston Democrat Jan Schakowsky said Thursday that the onus is on Republicans to agree to a final deal.

"We have agreed to a number of pretty painful things. I'm not thrilled about what we've agreed to," Schakowsky said. "But they keep moving the goal posts, and it's clear that they are pushing for a shutdown."

Federal employees deemed "essential" can work through a shutdown. Members of Congress get to decide which of their staff fit that description. Schakowsky said she believes all her staff are essential, while Dold said he would "pare down" his team.

Source