Kaine, Warner comment on Senate votes to avert shutdown

The Senate voted 54-46 on Monday to reject continued attempts by House Republicans to use the threat of government shutdown to delay or defund the Affordable Care Act.

Comment on the vote from U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va.:

“I have now twice voted for a clean spending bill that would keep the government funded through November 15. The spending bill is a compromise – accepting the House’s budget number rather than the Senate spending target. The choice is once again in the hands of House Republicans – accept our compromise offer that’s been on the table since last week to avert a government shutdown, or keep using the threat of shutdown to make an ideological point over health care.”

Comment on the vote from U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va.:

“It is disappointing that the House majority is prepared to shut down the federal government in its continuing ideological opposition to the Affordable Care Act. This is not a responsible way to conduct our nation’s business. It threatens the economic recovery. It also is not fair to target the federal workforce to bear the brunt of this dysfunction. The Senate has now sent a clean interim spending measure to the House twice – a measure which already reflects compromise between the Senate and House spending plans. The House leadership should allow members to cast an up-or-down vote.”