Hoyer Remarks at Democratic Leadership Press Conference Urging House Republicans to Prevent a Government Shutdown

Statement

House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) spoke during a press conference this afternoon with Democratic Leadership urging House Republicans to take immediate action and work with House Democrats to prevent a government shutdown:

"Thank you very much Madam Leader. We are against shutting down the government. Shutting down the government is bad policy, it undermines the confidence of our people, our national security, our economy, and the creation of jobs. We are against shutting down government.

"As a result, we are prepared at this point in time to allow six weeks so that we can negotiate how we operate government effectively and efficiently. And as a result, we are prepared to work as a leadership team to get the votes for a number which we think is not accurate, but which is the Republican number.

"We are asking them to take yes for an answer. We hope they take yes for an answer. This is not a negotiation. We are taking their number, and we would hope that they could also take their number, so that we can keep the government open, keep America's confidence at a level of respect for their Representatives sent to the Congress of the United States to make sure that government works well for them and their families.

"I now want to yield to my good friend, the Assistant Leader, Jim Clyburn of South Carolina."

Source