Pocan Statement on Government Shutdown

WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02) today released the following statement after the government shutdown at 12:01 a.m. on October 1, 2013.

“This is a sad day for the American people, and our American democracy. Instead of working together to fulfill our most basic duty—to keep the government running—the extreme Tea Party wing has taken Congress hostage all the way to a government shutdown. Instead of being the world’s greatest example of representative government, we seem to have become the nation’s largest kindergarten—only with control of the nation’s checkbook and nuclear arsenal.

“It’s time for the adults in the Republican party to take the keys back from the Tea Party and stand up to those who would rather see our government shut down than allow expanded health care access in America. I am committed to doing all that I can to come to a commonsense resolution as quickly as possible, but I refuse to be held hostage by extremist demands.”