In 2013, Durbin said it takes “cowardice” to allow a government shutdown to occur, now obstructs clean budget

Moments ago, U.S. Senate Democrats, including Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, obstructed a clean budget vote which will force a shutdown of the Federal Government. Durbin and Duckworth recklessly obstructed the budget just so they could force their partisan, political agenda on our country.

Last night, the House passed a clean budget that would keep the government open while fully-funding the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for six years. Unfortunately when that budget made it’s way to the Senate, Democrats blocked the bill. Durbin’s and Duckworth’s intransigence has dire consequences for Illinois and our country:

• Furloughs for Department of Defense civilian staff and workers at other Federal Government departments
• Delayed paychecks for service men and women in the armed forces and civilian government workers
• 329,990 children in Illinois could lose their health insurance if CHIP is not reauthorized
• Delayed critical services for our nation’s most vulnerable residents, including no new applicants for Medicare
• Delayed welfare assistance to states
• Delayed tax refunds for taxpayers
• Destroyed jobs and a negative impact on the economy

But Dick Durbin is fully aware of the consequences of his actions. In 2013, when the Federal Government faced a similar shutdown situation, Durbin said allowing a shutdown to occur takes “cowardice”. Durbin also gave a nearly 14 minutes of remarks on the Senate floor describing in detail the negative consequences that a shutdown would have on our country, particularly in Illinois. Watch his 2013 remarks HERE.

Do Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth think they and their Senate Democrat colleagues are cowards for allowing “governmental chaos” or do they both have amnesia?

Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider released the following statement after Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth shut down the Federal Government:

“According to Senator Dick Durbin’s own past statements on government shutdowns, he, Tammy Duckworth and their fellow U.S. Senate Democrat colleagues are cowards. Not only are they cowards, they are hypocrites. Durbin railed against shutdown tactics and their consequences a few short years ago.

“Durbin and Duckworth have forced a government shutdown even though they were fully aware of the dire consequences for our state and nation. Durbin and Duckworth are threatening our nation’s security, health, and economy all so they can force their own partisan political agenda on our country.”

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