Congressman Al Green’s Statement on the GOP Government Shutdown

(Washington, DC)--On October 1, 2013, Congressman Al Green released the following statement on the GOP government shutdown.

“Tonight’s government shut down represents a collective failure to responsibly govern our country. It is truly disappointing that we have, allowed a partisan minority to impede the progress and recovery of our country.

“I am a true believer in the American democratic system; one that is predicated on a legislature, an executive branch and a judicial branch acting as a check and balance to each other. I believe that when the legislature passes a law, that is then signed by the executive and then upheld by the judicial branch, the final product is one that reflects the representative will of the American people in our representative form of government.

“The Affordable Care Act was passed by Congress, signed by the President and upheld by the Supreme Court of the United States of America—it is the law of the land. I support amending it to improve it; but I do not support using a government shutdown to end it, as many of my colleagues have chosen to do.

“I remain committed to finding a solution and I will continue to work with my Democratic and Republican colleagues until we find such a solution without closing the doors of healthcare to more than 6 million Texans. We must not turn our backs on the millions who will benefit from the Affordable Care Act to placate a partisan minority.”