Skip to main content

#TBT -- The Destructive #GOPshutdown Edition

October 1, 2015
Blog Post
Two years ago today, House Republicans shut down the federal government, costing $24 billion and over 100,000 jobs!  These were some headlines dominating the media then:

TIME, [10/1/2013] – Federal Government Begins First Shutdownin 17 Years

USA TODAY, [10/1/2013] – Government shutdown has impact on military bases

Huffington Post, [10/1/2013] –WIC Programs Shutting Down As Federal Government Comes To Halt

National Geographic, [10/1/2013] –NASAHit by Government Shutdown

Washington Post, [10/1/2013] – The shutdown's effect on federal contractors is a huge source of uncertainty

NBC News, [10/1/2013] – Money for nothing: Government shutdown costs $12.5 million per hour

CBS SF Bay Area, [10/1/2013] – Effects Of Government Shutdown Felt Across Bay Area

ABC News, [10/1/2013] – Government Shutdown Bad for Business

One would think Republicans would learn their lesson.  Yesterday, however, 151 House Republicans voted for another #GOPshutdown going against 73 percent of Americans who oppose it!

…more Republicans just voted to draw a line in the sand and allow a government shutdown than voted to avoid one.

…they probably can't count on most members of their own party to help them

Take a look at the roll call, and note that only 91 House Republicans voted for the bipartisan measure to prevent a shutdown.  The House GOP conference has 247 members, which means only about a third of them were on board with their leadership's plan to keep the government's lights on.

Passage wasn't a sure thing.

Most Republican lawmakers opposed the plan…

In the House, the legislation was approved only because of strong support by Democrats…The House vote was 257 to 151, with 186 Democrats and 91 Republicans in favor.  All of the "no" votes were by Republicans.

Yesterday's period of GOP chaos highlighted Republicans' relentless obsession with attacking women's health.  The GOP demonstrated that their radical agenda was more important than the veterans, children and hungry families who would shoulder the burden of their political games.