Standard & Poor's estimated the shutdown has taken $24 billion out of the economy, and the Fitch credit rating agency warned Tuesday that it was reviewing its AAA rating on U.S. government debt for a possible downgrade.
Senators:
- Sherrod Brown (D): Yes
- Rob Portman (R): Yes
Representatives:
- John Boehner (R): Yes
- Jim Jordan (R): No
- Mike Turner (R): No
- Luke Messer (R, Ind.): No
Senator Brown's statement:
"Today's bipartisan plan will end the shutdown and prevent the catastrophic consequences associated with the U.S. failing to pay its bills," Brown said.
Senator Portman's statement:
"After weeks of Washington dysfunction, I am glad to see the government reopen and Congress working together to make sure we don't default on our debts," Portman said. Portman added he believes it is now Obama's turn to negotiate on a path forward to deal with Washington's underlying problem of overpromising and overspending that brought the nation to a boiling point.
"My colleagues and I are here, ready and willing to negotiate on how to rein in Washington's out-of-control spending on autopilot so that we not only prevent a future debt limit crisis in February, but also avoid putting a debt crisis on the backs of our children and grandchildren," Portman said.
Speaker Boehner's statement:
"The House has fought with everything it has to convince the president of the United States to engage in bipartisan negotiations aimed at addressing our country's debt and providing fairness for the American people under ObamaCare. That fight will continue. But blocking the bipartisan agreement reached today by the members of the Senate will not be a tactic for us," Boehner said. "In addition to the risk of default, doing so would open the door for the Democratic majority in Washington to raise taxes again on the American people and undo the spending caps in the 2011 Budget Control Act without replacing them with better spending cuts. With our nation's economy still struggling under years of the president's policies, raising taxes is not a viable option."
Rep. Messer's statement:
"I will be voting against the Senate plan. The bill does little to protect the American people from Obamacare or to protect our children and grandchildren from inheriting a mountain of debt. Nonetheless, I am glad to see the shutdown ending. It's time to get people back to work and time for Congress to move forward."
Rep. Turner's statement:
"I couldn't support any bill that raises the Debt Limit and does not deal with Sequestration or address long term spending controls to fix the debt issue. I voted for every bill previously to avoid a government shutdown and believe we needed to reopen the government immediately. But as long as the threat of Sequestration looms over our military and threatens our national security, I can't support a package that would raise our debt limit."
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