[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 131 (Saturday, September 28, 2013)]
[House]
[Page H5936]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WANT COMPROMISE

  (Mr. BUTTERFIELD asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, Republican extremists have put the 
Federal Government on the brink of a shutdown in less than 3 days. On 
yesterday, the Senate sent over a resolution that funds the government 
through November 15 using the sequester level of $986 billion.
  What is the Republican leadership going to do with this resolution 
that will keep the lights on through November 15?
  Are you going to continue to listen to the 40-50 ultraconservatives 
in your Conference whose agenda is to disparage President Obama and 
hold us hostage until we gut the Affordable Care Act, as the gentlelady 
from Tennessee just made reference to, and make deeper cuts that hurt 
the American people?
  Is this where we are headed?
  I pray for reasonableness on the part of my Republican colleagues. I 
know it's not all Republicans who are swinging the wrecking ball, but 
it's a critical mass within the Republican ranks that is beyond reason.
  A very sad day in American history is upon us.
  I urge Speaker Boehner to listen to voices of reason in his 
Conference and to pull together like-minded Republicans who can join 
with like-minded Democrats and get this done. The American people want 
compromise. They want it today.

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