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Colorado Congressmen React To Possible Federal Government Shut Down


DENVER (CBS4)- Elected representatives and senators from Colorado are reacting to what's happening in Washington, D.C.

Rep. Ed Perlmutter, a Democrat, said that voters should be upset about the standsill in the final hours before a deadline that would shut down the federal government.

"Republicans, they like to blame the debt on energy efficiency, preschool programs, Planned Parenthood or medical research. We all know when we had those big tax cuts early on, plus two wars, plus Wall Street falling apart. That's where the debt came from, so their priorities are getting rid of programs they never liked in the first place," said Perlmutter.

Rep. Cory Gardner, a Republican from Northern Colorado, also spoke to CBS4 Morning News on Friday.

"The Planned Parenthood language was not in the bill. The environmental riders were not in the bill. what we asked yesterday was simply for the united states senate, let's fun our troops. let's keep the government open while cutting spending and do it responsibly."

Sen. Michael Bennet, a Democrat, said the debate on Capitol Hill isn't concentrating on finding solutions.

"What we're caught in is a political conversation that has nothing to do with our deficit and our debt," said Bennet.

Perlmutter also commented about congress still receiving paychecks during the shutdown on CBS4's Morning News Friday.

"There ought to be a lot of anger. We the Democrats proposed last week that if there was a showdown, that we stop getting paid. The Republicans voted against that. They're running the house and they voted that down," said Rep. Ed Perlmutter.

Gardner said he plans to return his salary to the government.

"On the salary question, if there is a government shutdown and federal employees aren't paid, then I won't be paid, either. I'll be returning my salary to the Federal Treasury if federal employees aren't paid. I'm worried about the troops. Those men and women won't be paid if the Senate doesn't act on the measure we passed yesterday," said Gardner.

Democrat Sen. Mark Udall introduced his own bill to avert a shutdown at keep government funding at flat levels, but couldn't get a vote on it.

"If Republicans will step away from what seems to be an ideologically and arch conservative social agenda we can keep government running and move to real problems that face us, which is long-term debt," said Udall.

Rep. Doug Lamborn, a Republican from Colorado Springs, said he will keep working for his community no matter what happens on Capitol Hill.

"My staff will continue working in the event of a government shutdown. They will answer calls from constituents and help communicate critical information regarding government services. My staff will also help me work toward solutions to resolve the pending government shutdown and to get the budget under control," said Lamborn.

Rep. Jared Polis, a Democrat from Boulder, released the following statement regarding the pending government shutdown, "It is ridiculous that we are confronting a government shutdown tonight at midnight. The budget should have been worked out long ago. We need to govern as adults. I am hopeful that a budget compromise can soon be reached, and I will work hard to reach a reasonable compromise."

U.S.-Capitol
Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. (credit: CBS)

"This has been going on since last August and September. This must be the 7th stopgap measure we've had and we just got to get this done. This is silliness. In my point of view, I've supported the last two stopgap measures but enough is enough," said Perlmutter.

At midnight Eastern time, which is 10 p.m. local time, Friday, April 8, funding for federal government operations will expire. While budget negotiations are continuing, government services unrelated to national security and public safety will cease until a final agreement can be reached to fund operations through the remainder of the current fiscal year, which ends September 30.

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