Durbin Blasts Republicans Over Ongoing Shutdown

Speaking on the U.S. Senate floor on Wednesday, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) blasted Republicans for holding up a solution to the partial government shutdown.

Durbin said smaller spending bills approved by House Republicans account for 18 percent of the domestic discretionary budget. He said not solving the government shutdown at once will have disastrous consequences.

“Enough is enough,” Durbin said. “This notion that closing down our government and keeping it closed is somehow acceptable political conduct is outrageous.” 

Durbin said he is willing to negotiate on changes to the Affordable Care Act if a short-term spending bill is approved without provisions to defund the health care law.  One area of the law he is willing to negotiate on is a push to do away with the medical device tax.