KITV - Hawaii Delegates Speak on Government Shutdown

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Hawaii's congressional delegation has weighed in on the recent government shutdown, and how talks in Congress will go forward.

CNN reports Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii plans to return pay checks received during the shutdown back to the U.S. Treasury. She will join Rep. John Fleming, R-Louisiana who also plans give away his pay. Gabbard and her fellow Congressional members' pay are protected through the 27th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. She still hopes to see a solution reached in Congress.

"What needs to happen is for the House and Senate to pass a clean funding resolution that will fund the government, and allow for these debates on other subsidy or policy issues to take place under a different forum," said Gabbard.

Sen. Brian Schatz shared his thoughts on the situation through a statement that read, "There's a simple way to fix this. All that Speaker Boehner would need to do is to allow the House of Representatives to vote to reopen the government without including irrelevant and harmful amendments to defund Obamacare."

Hawaii's other congressional delegates also shared their opinions about the debate that has led to the shutdown.

"So how do we get out of it? Like I've always said, you got to have adults in the room. At some point, people have got to say enough is enough," said Rep. Colleen Hanabusa. "It's got to come to the majority party because they're the ones who determine what we vote on the floor."

Sen. Mazie Hirono said in a statement Monday, "This is sad, and frankly stupid, considering the many other challenges our country faces."