Statement by the Press Secretary

Today Republicans in the House of Representatives moved to shut down the government.  Congress has two jobs to do: pass budgets and pay the bills it has racked up.  Republicans in Congress had the opportunity to pass a routine, simple continuing resolution that keeps the government running for a few more weeks.  But instead, Republicans decided they would rather make an ideological point by demanding the sabotage of the health care law.  Republicans have tried and failed to defund or delay the health care law more than 40 times, and they know this demand is reckless and irresponsible. The President has shown that he is willing to improve the health care law and meet Republicans more than halfway to deal with our fiscal challenges, but he will not do so under threats of a government shutdown that will hurt our economy.  Any member of the Republican Party who votes for this bill is voting for a shutdown.  It's time for the House to listen to the American people and act, as the Senate has, in a reasonable way to pass a bill that keeps the government running and move on.