Washington, D.C. - Today Congressman Scott Rigell (R-VA) and Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) spoke with Andrea Mitchell on MSNBC regarding their concerns about Congress adjourning in August. Emphasizing a need to stay in Washington to tackle our nation's profound fiscal challenges, Rigell and Warner agreed that packing up and going home for 5 weeks is irresponsible.
Rep. Rigell and Sen. Warner spoke with Andrea Mitchell on MSNBCJuly 31, 2013.
Last week, Congressman Rigell called on leadership to keep the House in session through August to finish its appropriations work. Speaking from a camera stationed in the Russell rotunda, Rigell said: "I've made clear to leadership and to our conference that our work is not done. We've only passed four of the 12 appropriations bills that fund the federal government. This is entirely within the control of the House of Representatives.”
Rep. Rigell cited he and Warner's background in business as a strong contributor to their common ground on the issue. Sen. Warner, who experiences similar frustration with the legislative calendar, said: "We haven't got a budget deal. We don't have appropriations bills for the next fiscal year. We've got this crazy word called sequestration, which I know Scott and I both feel is dramatically hurting people's lives all across the country, particularly in Virginia, where we have got a lot of federal workers, government contractors. They're getting laid off one day a week. They're getting a 20 percent cut in pay. They're getting no kind of August sequestration discount on their day care payments or rent payments or student loan payments, so we ought to stay here and do our work."
Both Members agreed that common ground in Washington is lacking, and desperately needed. "The time is now for us to respect one another, and search for common ground. There can be a wise path forward, but we've got to engage with each other to find it," said Rigell. "The facts are, we cannot stay on this path. Every American is affected regardless of political affiliation or no political affiliation."
To view the entire interview, click the link below: