LoBiondo Statement on Vote to End Government Shutdown

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Congressman Frank A. LoBiondo (NJ-02) today issued the following statement upon the Senate-brokered bipartisan deal to end the 16 day partial federal government shutdown and prevent potential U.S. default:
“From the first day of the shutdown, I’ve reached out and worked with all colleagues – Democrats and Republicans alike – to find a compromise to end the impasse. While my staunch opposition to Obamacare has not changed, allowing veterans to go without their disability payments, our seniors to go without their Social Security checks, and thousands of federal employees, contractors and their families to continue to be held in limbo is not the responsible way to govern the greatest nation on earth.
“The Senate plan being considered tonight is surely not a long-term fix to the critical fiscal challenges facing our country. It is, however, a solid short-term patch to get good-faith negotiations going on all sides. The President, the Senate and the House must come to the table, present their realistic ideas to each other and the American people that will grow our economy, protect Social Security and Medicare, reform our tax code and reduce our $17 trillion debt. For the good of America and her future, we must take this opportunity to come together, break this economically-destructive cycle that both political parties created, and solve the issues we’ve been sent here to address.”
The Senate deal is expected to be considered by the full House later this evening. LoBiondo will be voting “yes.”