20 Must-Read Quotes About Republicans' Shutdown Showdown

Congress needs to pass legislation funding the entire government before adjourning for the year, but as the scheduled adjournment date of December 11 nears, Republicans continue to threaten another harmful, costly government shutdown. The American people sent a clear message this election that they wanted both parties to work together, and House Republicans have the responsibility to show they can govern and keep the government open.

The clock is ticking to pass an omnibus, with only seven scheduled legislative days remaining this year:

“Government funding is suddenly in peril, as conservatives fume over President Barack Obama’s decision to end the deportation threat for millions of undocumented immigrants… As Congress returns from its Thanksgiving break, problems are plentiful and finding solutions will test leaders of both parties — particularly Republicans, whose moves now could determine whether they can change the tone on Capitol Hill and prove the days of governing by crisis are over.” [Politico, 12/1/14]

“Lawmakers returning to Capitol Hill on Monday will have less than two weeks to figure out how to keep the government funded amid an acrimonious fight between Republicans and the White House over immigration.” [Wall Street Journal, 12/1/14]

“Lawmakers reconvene Monday for the final two weeks of the 113th Congress, with some Republicans clamoring to use the power of the purse to block President Obama's executive action on immigration and Democrats warning that such a strategy could lead to another government shutdown.” [National Journal, 12/1/14]

“Government funding is set to run out Dec. 11 when the continuing resolution expires, meaning lawmakers returning from Thanksgiving break must strike a deal in the next two weeks to stop a repeat of the 16-day government shutdown that occurred in 2013.” [ABC News, 12/1/14]

“The government will shut down on Dec. 12 if lawmakers don’t agree to a new funding bill by then.” [The Hill, 11/30/14]

The American people will place blame with Republicans if they shut down the government once again:

According to a recent survey, “half of the public would blame GOP lawmakers for a government shutdown,” “a plurality of people polled said a government shutdown that would last a few days would be a major problem,” and 68% believe Republicans in Congress aren’t doing enough to cooperate with the President. [CNN, 12/1/14]

Following the 16 day shutdown in October 2013, “53% of those polled blamed Republicans for the shutdown” and “70% of participants faulted Republicans in Congress for putting their political agenda ahead of what's good for the country.” [Wall Street Journal, 10/10/13]

And Republicans admit that a shutdown would be bad for the party:

“‘Shutting down the entire government over something never did make sense to the American people, still doesn’t and won’t in the future,’ said Senator Richard M. Burr, a North Carolina Republican who is part of Mr. Boehner’s inner circle.” [New York Times, 12/1/14]

Yet, Republican Members refuse to rule out another shutdown…

“In the 10 days since the president announced the policy changes, Republican lawmakers and commentators have suggested that Congress counter with everything short of impeachment. One prominent conservative voice on immigration, Representative Raul Labrador of Idaho, said Republicans should formally censure the president, while Rich Lowry of National Review has said the House should withhold its annual invitation for the president to deliver the State of the Union address in the Capitol in January. Others favor more traditional forms of legislative confrontation, like trying to block funding of Obama's actions through the appropriations process.” [The Atlantic, 12/1/14]

“Boehner has not ruled out the possibility of a government shutdown though he wants to avoid taking the political hit his party suffered in 2013 after a 16-day shutdown provoked by the implementation of the Affordable Care Act.” [The Hill, 11/28/14]

“[Republican Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama] is planning much more serious mischief: using Congress’s power of the purse to pressure the White House into backing off [on immigration].” [New York Times, 11/28/14]

“In the House, Speaker John Boehner has refused to rule out the possibility of threatening either a narrow or a full-scale shutdown to get Mr. Obama to back off his plans. Did Mr. Boehner learn nothing from the 16-day shutdown the House imposed on the country in October 2013? That deeply irresponsible act — a futile tantrum aimed at the health reform law — harmed hundreds of thousands of government employees, along with countless citizens who depend on important programs. It hurt the reputation of the country, and particularly that of the House and the Republican Party.” [New York Times, 11/28/14]

“Boehner has repeatedly refused to rule out any options — even the threat of another government shutdown — to soothe Tea-Party members on the right who are furious over Obama’s executive order.” [The Hill, 11/23/14]

“Boehner has signaled that ‘no option’ is off the table, and more than 60 House Republicans have already sent a letter advocating the [government shutdown] approach.” [National Journal, 11/20/14]

“For much of 2014, GOP officials hoped voters would not see the Republican Party as the home of shutdown politics and impeachment threats, and yet, it’s apparently mulling both, all because President Obama is poised to govern on immigration policy.” [MSNBC, 11/18/14]

“Rank-and-file members are expected to speak their minds about whether the GOP should block Obama’s order with legislation funding the government, even if it means risking a shutdown fight with Democrats. With the deadline for government funding looming on Dec. 12, Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) is keeping his cards close to the vest, declaring, ‘All options are on the table.’” [The Hill, 11/17/14]

“[Republican Senator] Cornyn said that Congress should use ‘every tool available to us,’ and withholding money seems to be the only option.” [Politico, 11/17/14]

“Some Republicans have raised the possibility of refusing to pass a continuing resolution funding the government after mid-December as a means of making the president withdraw [executive] action [on immigration reform]. Last week, House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) refused to take the possibility of a government shutdown off the table.” [The Fiscal Times, 11/17/14]

“Republican lawmakers have suggested a government shutdown could take place if Obama issues an executive action.” [Latin Post, 11/17/14]

“…Republicans are threatening another bitter partisan showdown that risks shutting down the government.” [Washington Post, 11/16/14]

Despite strong bipartisan support for fixing our nation’s broken immigration system, Republicans continue to consider threatening another government shutdown a viable option in response to President Obama’s executive action on immigration. The President is acting within his legal authority by taking the first step to fix our broken system, but House Republicans can finish the job by working with Democrats to pass a comprehensive, bipartisan immigration reform bill, just as the Senate did over 500 days ago.

It is time for Republicans to work with Democrats to keep our government open. They have the opportunity to show they can govern, and House Democrats are ready to work with them to reach agreement on an omnibus, which will help stabilize and grow our economy and support job creation.

Click here to read the PDF.

Follow Whip Hoyer on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.