At Least 21 House Republicans Have Said They Would Vote For Clean Funding Bill To Re-Open Government, But Cassidy Still Supports Indefinite Shutdown

Cassidy Helped Shut Down Government In Order To Delay Same Health Care Reforms He Tried To Pass At State Level in ’07

New Orleans, Louisiana – It’s been four days since Bill Cassidy helped shut down the government in order to delay the same health care reforms he tried to pass at the state level in 2007, and its damaging effects are becoming clearer to Louisiana families by the day.

  • The Shreveport Times reports that Louisiana’s agricultural and shipping industries are hurting as a result of the shutdown. Shipping permits aren’t being issued because of furloughs, “‘marketing assistance loans aren’t going out,’ and aid for specialty crops is suspended.”
  • The Advocate and Times-Picayune report that FEMA has had to recall workers who were furloughed in advance of Tropical Storm Karen, while many first responders are still out of the job.
  • KTAL reports that many hunting, fishing and recreational areas have been closed.
  • WWLTV reports that, “At the Naval Air Station in Belle Chasse, practically all of the 1,900 civilian employees on base are now on furlough.”
  • The Town Talk reports Fort Polk soldiers might experience a “delay in receiving danger pay.”

Twenty-one GOP Congressmen have now relented and publically backed a clean funding bill that would re-open the government and end Bill Cassidy’s government shutdown. Cassidy however has doubled down. On Wednesday he blocked a vote to get the government back up and running, and he continues to support an indefinite government shutdown with no end in sight.

“Bill Cassidy’s decision to shut down the government in order to block implementing the same health care reforms he tried to pass at the state level only six years ago was a shameful political calculation that is hurting more Louisiana families by the day,” said Campaign for Louisiana Communications Director Andrew Zucker. “Now Bill Cassidy is refusing to support the only piece of legislation that would end his government shutdown today. As Bill Cassidy continues to support an indefinite government shutdown that hurts Louisiana and threatens the stability of our economy, it’s become increasingly clear that his only concern is protecting his personal political interests – not looking out for Louisiana families.”

BACKGROUND

10/2/13: Bill Cassidy Blocked The House From Voting To Fund The Government. [HJ Res 70, Vote #512, 10/2/13]

2007: Cassidy Proposed Louisiana “Create a Statewide Health Insurance Exchange” During State Senate Campaign. During his campaign for the State Senate, Cassidy proposed that Louisiana “create a statewide Health Insurance Exchange to lower insurance premiums, decrease administrative costs and allow flexibility in which benefits workers choose.” [Cassidy for State Senate, Website Archive, 2007]

Five Times, Cassidy Voted For Plans That Would Shutdown Government. [HJ Res 59, Vote #478, 9/20/13; CNN, 9/20/13; CNN, 9/29/13; Vote #498, 9/29/13; Vote 502, 9/30/13; Vote 504, 9/30/13; Vote 505, 10/1/13]

Cassidy Signed A Letter Asking GOP House Leadership Not To Support Any Spending Bill Unless The Affordable Care Act Is Defunded. “U.S. Rep. Bill Cassidy joined more than one-third of U.S. House Republicans in urging the leadership to threaten to force a government shutdown unless Obamacare is defunded… The letter that Cassidy signed onto includes 80 of the House’s 233 Republicans and asks the GOP House leadership not to support any spending bill — including a needed continuing resolution to avoid a partial government shutdown after Sept. 30 — unless the Affordable Care Act health care law is defunded.” [The Advocate, 8/25/13]

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