Cruz: Funding Obamacare with 51 Votes Would be a Mistake

WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) today took action on the Senate floor to avoid a government shutdown by asking that the House-passed Continuing Resolution be brought forward for a vote and additionally that during consideration of the House CR, any amendments be subject to a 60-vote threshold. Majority Leader Harry Reid objected to both consent requests.

Excerpts from the Senator's Remarks

"No American wants a government shutdown. I don't want a government shutdown. No one on this side of the aisle wants a government shutdown. The House of Representatives doesn't want a government shutdown. Mr. President, five minutes ago the Senate could have acted to prevent a government shutdown. The request that I promulgated to the Majority Leader was to pass the Continuing Resolution that the House of Representatives passed. And if that had happened, there would be no government shutdown."

"If it is the Majority Leader's intent to fund Obamacare using just 51 votes, then I would submit to every Republican in this body it is our obligation to our constituents to do everything we can to prevent the Majority Leader from funding Obamacare with just 51 votes. Any member of this body that votes for cloture on this bill will be voting to allow the Majority Leader to fund Obamacare on 51 votes. I think that vote's a mistake. I think that vote disserves our constituents. I think that vote hurts the people of America."

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