Press Releases

WASHINGTON — Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) joined House Republican leadership on day 28 of the Democrat government shutdown to once again reiterate their calls for Democrats to stop playing political games and reopen the government.

Click here or above to watch Whip Emmer’s remarks.

Whip Emmer: “As has been mentioned, yesterday, the largest federal workers’ union in the country, representing 820,000 federal workers, released a statement calling on Democrats to stop playing political games, pass our clean CR, and reopen the government. What was Chuck Schumer’s response? Silence. Crickets. He declined to comment. Meanwhile, millions of federal workers are reevaluating how to make ends meet. Air traffic controllers missed their first full paycheck today. Some are turning to food banks in order to feed their families. Here is what one Democrat and retired federal worker had to say about the current state of play: ‘The Democrats are the ones that actually, in the Senate side, shut down the government…So they have to get together and stop holding Americans hostage. We’re about to have people without food…And that’s ridiculous. It is not worth it.’ Remember, that’s coming from a Democrat, a retired federal worker. Since Chuck Schumer and company won’t listen to us, maybe they’ll listen to members of their own party. Enough is enough. You’re playing politics with people’s lives, and as Leader Scalise and the Speaker have reminded us, for what? So that you can appease the radical, pro-terrorist wing of your party? So that you can fundraise off of picking a fight with President Trump? It’s not worth it. In fact, it’s despicable and downright wrong. There’s a nonpartisan government funding bill waiting in the Senate to be sent to President Trump’s desk immediately. It will come to the floor for a vote for the thirteenth time this morning. Put an end to this madness, do the same right and reasonable thing that you did back in March, by the way, and vote yes on our clean CR. Instead of complaining about a new White House ballroom, how about you try doing your actual jobs and reopen the government for the people you were elected to serve.”

###