DCCC: FACT CHECK: Congressman Davis Voted For Shutdown, Won’t Rule Out Another Shutdown

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 -- The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee issued the following news release:

A month after voting to shut down the government, Congressman Rodney Davis still can't come clean with voters about his vote to shut down the government. When asked point blank last week on the Dave and Elizabeth Show if he was part of the faction that shut down the government as part of the "defund" movement, Congressman Davis wouldn't own up to his vote.

In reality, Congressman Davis not only voted to shut down the government, he was an early backer of the Mark Meadows letter that the Associated Press has reported led to the shutdown. Even Congressman Davis' own spokesman admitted that Davis' reckless actions could lead to a shutdown. What's more, Congressman Davis has refused to rule out another shutdown not once, but twice.

BACKGROUND:

October 2013: Davis Denied Being Part of the Republican "Faction" that Shutdown the Government. In October 2013, when asked if he was a part of Republican "faction" that shut down the government by trying to defund health care reform, Davis said "I think what your premise is entirely wrong there Elizabeth. I view myself as central Illinois's eyes and ears on the floor of the house. We passed four bills; One to defund Obamacare, three others to delay the tax penalties just like we're talking. Delay anyone individuals being able to be taxed for not being able to go up and sign up for health insurance they are now required to have. Those were the deals we sent over to the Senate and the last one didn't even touched Obamacare, it said appoint conferees, come talk to the house, so we avoid this government shutdown, nothing more, nothing less and Harry Reid stood there with his arms crossed and said no. Harry Reid and Barack Obama wanted this shutdown they wanted to gain political advantage and they gained some political advantage because of it." [Dave and Elizabeth Show, 2:00, 10/24/13]

Davis Said he Could Not Guarantee he would Not Vote for Another Shutdown. In October 2013, when asked if he would support another government shutdown Davis said, "We're going to have to see what happens over the next month and a half. I'm not one to sit and offer how I'm going to vote or how I'm not going to vote until I actually see a piece of legislation and put it into the perspective of that time and where we are. I can't guarantee that I'm going to vote for any piece of legislation a month and a half from now because I haven't seen it. That's what I'm saying." [The News-Gazette, 10/18/13] Headline: Congressman Davis Won't Guarantee Another Government Shutdown Won't Happen [Dewitt Daily News, 10/23/13]

2013: Davis Signed the Mark Meadows Letter to Urge Leadership Not to Have a Continuing Resolution Without Defunding Affordable Health Care Act. According to Freedom Works, Rodney Davis signed the Mark meadows letter, "affirming that they will refuse to vote for a CR that contains ObamaCare funding." [Freedom Works Website, 8/14/13; Meadows Letter, 8/21/13] Headline: 80 House Members: Shutdown Better than "Obamacare" [Associated Press, 8/23/13]

Davis Voted for a Continuing Resolution that would "Likely Result" In a Government Shutdown. In 2013 House Republicans passed 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]

Congressman Davis Voted Sixteen Times Against Efforts to Re-Open the Government. Following the government shutdown, Congressman Davis voted sixteen times against efforts to vote on a clean government funding resolution by allowing consideration of the Senate-passed continuing resolution. Of these votes, the New York Times wrote: "So far, however, there has been little tangible headway. Part of the problem is that moderates are behaving a bit too moderately. They have yet to vote with Democrats on procedural maneuvers that could force the hand of the Republican leadership or to sign a petition Democrats are circulating that would require a vote on a short-term spending bill to reopen the government if a majority of House members signed. They are unwilling to defy their leaders to that extent." [H Res 370, Vote #509, 10/02/13; HJ Res 70, Vote #512, 10/02/13; HR 3230, Vote #515, 10/03/13; HJ Res 72, Vote #517, 10/03/13; H Res 371, Vote #519, 10/04/13; HJ Res 85, Vote #521, 10/04/13; HJ Res 75, Vote #523, 10/04/13; H J Res 77, Vote #527, 10/7/13; HJ Res 84, Vote #529, 10/08/13; H Res 373, Vote #531, 10/08/13; HR 3273, Vote #533, 10/08/13; HJ Res 90, Vote #536, 10/09/13; HJ Res 79, Vote #539, 10/10/13; HJ Res 76, Vote #541, 10/11/13; HJ Res 380, Vote #543, 10/11/13; HJ Res 80, Vote #547, 10/14/13; New York Times, 10/07/13]

...And Because of Congressman Davis' Government Shutdown:

1,300 Illinois National Guard Employees Were Furloughed. In 2013 during the government shutdown, "About 1,300 Illinois National Guard employees also are off the job, as are dozens of state employees," according to Associated Press. [Associated Press, 10/1/13]

Approximately 3,500 Civilian Employees at Scott Air Force Base Were Furloughed. In 2013 during the government shutdown, "Some 3,500 civilian employees - about two-thirds of the non-military staff at 13,000-worker Scott Air Force Base - reported for work but were later sent home after completing paperwork to wait out the federal shutdown," according to the Associated Press. [Associated Press, 10/1/13]

Illinois Scaled Back Inspections on Hospitals and Nursing Homes. In 2013 the Associated Press reported that "Illinois officials are scaling back on certain hospital and nursing home inspections because of the partial federal government shutdown." [Associated Press, 10/11/13] Headline: Shutdown Impacts Some Illinois Hospital Inspections [Associated Press, 10/11/13]

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