DCCC: Chris Christie Says Lobiondo and Runyan’s Shutdown Threats are ‘Irresponsible’

WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 -- The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee issued the following news release:

New Jersey Republican Governor Chris Christie says that Congressman Frank LoBiondo and Congressman Jon Runyan's threats to shut down the government are "irresponsible" and called them a "failure."

Governor Christie said in an interview today that "it's always irresponsible if you're running the government to be advocating for shutting it down," and "that by definition is a failure."

Congressman LoBiondo and Congressman Runyan both voted to give to give in to Tea Party demands and approved a measure that is hurtling the country toward a government shutdown in three days, all so that they can take away critical patient protections and give insurance companies free rein to raise health care costs.

"Congressman Frank LoBiondo and Congressman Jon Runyan's threats to shut down the government are so out of touch with the people of New Jersey that even Governor Chris Christie is calling them out for their reckless and irresponsible approach," said Marc Brumer of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. "Congressman LoBiondo and Congressman Runyan's march toward shutting down the government unless insurance companies are given free rein is so insane and poses such a risk to New Jersey jobs that now they've got Chris Christie telling them to stop their madness."

BACKGROUND:

Christie Said Government Shutdown would be "Irresponsible" and a "Failure." "I think it's always irresponsible if you're running the government to be advocating for shutting it down [...] That by definition is a failure. You gotta work it out," Christie said. [CNN, 9/27/13]

Congressmen LoBiondo and Runyan Voted for a Continuing Resolutions Bill That Would "Likely Result" in a Government Shutdown. In 2013, Congressmen LoBiondo and Runyan voted for a Continuing Resolution that the Associated Press reported would "likely result" in the shutdown of the federal government. According to the New York Times: "After three years of cajoling, finessing and occasionally strong-arming his fitful conservative majority, Speaker John A. Boehner waved the white flag on Wednesday, surrendering to demands from his right flank that he tie money to keep the government open after Sept. 30 to stripping President Obama's health care law of any financing. [...] The House's stopgap spending measure would finance the government through Dec. 15 at the current spending levels, which reflect the automatic spending cuts that took effect in March, known as sequestration, while blocking the health care law, under which the uninsured will be enrolled beginning on Oct. 1." [HJ RES. 59, Vote #478, 9/20/13; Associated Press, 8/23/13; New York Times, 9/18/13]

* McClatchy: "Social Security Payments Could be Delayed [...] Health Care and Other Services for Veterans Could be Curtailed." "Social Security payments could be delayed, new claims not processed; in 1996 Shutdown, furloughed workers were recalled to alliate backlogs. [...] "Military would continue to work but get IOUs for paychecks during shutdown. Health care and other services for veterans could be curtailed." [McClatchy, 9/25/13]

* CBO: Abolishing Health Care Reform would Raise Deficit by over $100 Billion over 10 Years. "Congressional budget analysts said Wednesday that repealing ObamaCare would increase the deficit by scrapping the law's taxes, fees and spending cuts. [...] Director Doug Elmendorf pointed to an estimate from July 2012 that abolishing healthcare reform would raise the deficit by $109 billion over 10 years." [The Hill, 5/15/13]

* Ezra Klein: "A Government Shutdown Will Cost Us Billions." "To understand what Congress is risking every time it nears a shutdown, consider what past ones have cost. In 1996, the Office of Management and Budget tallied the two major shutdowns of the decade at about $1.4 billion. Adjusting for inflation would bring that total to more than $2 billion in today's dollars..." [Washington Post, 9/23/12]

* Even as Families Would Suffer, Members of Congress Will Still Collect Their Six-Figure Salaries. "The president and members of Congress are also exempt from furlough and must decide which of their respective staff members to keep around during a shutdown." [NPR, 9/23/13]

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