House Members Demand Leadership from Senate to Avoid Shutdown

Brandon Stewart /

This morning a number of House Republicans, joined by Senators Jeff Sessions (R-AL) and Mike Lee (R-UT), met outside the Senate to demand action from their Senate colleagues and the White House to prevent a government shutdown. The press conference, one of six over as many days, is designed to put the spotlight on the failure of the Senate to help prevent a looming government shutdown.

Reading from a prepared statement, organizer Rep. Rick Crawford (R-AR) kicked off the event by placing the blame for the lack of a deal at the feet of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV). “It has been 46 days since the House passed a bill which reduces the massive $1.4 trillion deficit for FY2011 by a modest $61 billion,” he said, “Where’s your bill, Mr. Reid?” (more…)