Oct. 1, 2013, Fairfax, VA—Americans for Limited Government President Nathan Mehrens today issued the following statement blasting Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid for rejecting legislation that would fund the Department of Veterans Affairs and the national parks:

“Harry Reid has demonstrated contempt for America’s veterans and those who are visiting our national parks, and it is inexcusable. If the regular appropriations process had been followed by Congress, the government would have already been funded in a piecemeal fashion, an approach Reid now condemns. Apparently, the regular appropriations process is now a brand new ‘wacky idea from the Tea Party-driven Republicans.’

“Reid’s choice to opt for television visuals of people being ejected from our national parks, and his determination to hold veterans hostage by refusing to fund the basic promises that have been made to those who have risked it all to protect our nation’s freedom is abhorrent, and should be rejected by Americans of all political stripes.

“Reid’s refusal to even negotiate a pathway to opening the government shows that he lost touch not only with the American people, but any sense of his responsibility he has as the Senate Majority Leader. The people should demand that Senate Democrats force Harry Reid to fund the national parks and the Department of Veterans Affairs or else they will wear the same stain of shame and the permanent contempt of all those who have served our great nation.

“It is a disgrace that the Washington, D.C.-focused Reid would rather punish school children wanting to visit Yosemite and our nation’s heroic veterans in order to keep his political leverage. Senate Democrats need to get Reid under control.”

Interview Availability: Please contact Americans for Limited Government at (703)383-0880 or at media@algnews.org to arrange an interview with ALG experts including ALG President Nathan Mehrens.

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Oct. 1, 2013, Fairfax, VA—Americans for Limited Government President Nathan Mehrens today issued the following statement urging the House of Representatives to pass another continuing resolution that funds the government except for Obamacare and to take its previous offers off the table:

“The House has passed three continuing resolutions now, each subsequent one weaker than its predecessor. The final one that passed, that House Speaker John Boehner has attempted to send to conference, actually represents a complete collapse of the Republican defund Obamacare position. The final proposal merely delays the individual mandate for a year and rolls back congressional benefits. All the subsidies under the exchanges and the Medicaid expansion will still go into effect. That is unacceptable.

“The only upside right now is Harry Reid has granted Boehner a reprieve by refusing to go to conference. The House should reset this discussion by returning to the easily understood, original position of defunding the law in full.  Right now, the House is negotiating against itself. If that continues, all Reid needs to do is wait, and the House will eventually deliver a so-called ‘clean’ continuing resolution, and even that might not be enough for Reid, who now smells blood in the water.

“The House needs to negotiate from a position of strength. Boehner will be unable to do that if his opening bid in conference is to fund Obamacare. The sad fact is that Harry Reid doesn’t care that the government is shut down. And he will only be brought to the table when he starts feeling political pain. Hopefully, John Boehner has finally learned his lesson.”

Interview Availability: Please contact Americans for Limited Government at (703)383-0880 or at media@algnews.org to arrange an interview with ALG experts including ALG President Nathan Mehrens.

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Oct. 1, 2013, Fairfax, VA—Americans for Limited Government President Nathan Mehrens today issued the following statement urging Congress to adopt legislation by Rep. Matt Salmon (R-Ariz.) that would fund the Department of Veterans Affairs, and to pass similar legislation to fund the National Parks Service at levels required by sequestration:

“With the government partially shut down while congressional leaders figure out what to do about the Obamacare train wreck, Congress should immediately adopt legislation that will fund our nation’s veterans and national parks. These are two functions that need not be caught in the crossfire over whether or not to implement the health care law.”

Interview Availability: Please contact Americans for Limited Government at (703)383-0880 or at media@algnews.org to arrange an interview with ALG experts including ALG President Nathan Mehrens.

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Sept. 30, 2013, Fairfax, VA—Americans for Limited Government President Nathan Mehrens today issued the following statement in response to the Senate voting down a continuing resolution that would fund the government and delay the individual mandate under Obamacare:

“When Obamacare was enacted, it was without a single Republican supporting it. Now, Harry Reid has decided that rather than let the Republican-controlled House of Representatives have any say at all in the implementation of Obamacare, he would prefer to just shut down the government. To Reid and Obama, the House is nothing more than a rubber stamp for their edicts.

“Now the House must stand firm and remind the Senate and White House that Congress still has the power of the purse, and that this is not one-party rule. The House is not a rubber stamp.”

Interview Availability: Please contact Americans for Limited Government at (703) 383-0880  or at media@algnews.org to arrange an interview with ALG experts including ALG President Nathan Mehrens.

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Sept. 30, 2013, Fairfax, VA—Americans for Limited Government President Nathan Mehrens today issued the following statement urging the House of Representatives to hold firm behind their current one-year delay of implementation of Obamacare tied to the continuing resolution:

“The Senate’s arrogance to table the House-passed continuing resolution to keep the government open and delay implementation of Obamacare makes it clear that Harry Reid wants a government shutdown.

“Any additional offers from House Republicans are merely negotiating against themselves and are foolish. Tomorrow, Obamacare’s health exchanges go into effect with all of the confusion, failed computer systems, and other problems that can be expected to occur. It is the responsibility of House Republicans and Senate Democrats to stop this train wreck from occurring.

“The American people have little time to contact their House members and urge them to stand firm against allowing funding for Obamcare to go into effect this year. A vote is expected early this evening on another compromise, except this one funds Obamacare.

“If the House votes to merely delay implementation of the individual mandate or a so-called ‘clean’ continuing resolution, it will mean the House is voting to allow funding for Obamacare to go forward. That is funding for implementation, funding for the Medicaid expansion, and funding for insurance subsidies via the exchanges. The House does not need to compromise with itself, it needs to stand firm. Any member that votes to allow funding for Obamacare, will own it. Allowing Obamacare to be implemented is worse than any temporary government slowdown.”

Interview Availability: Please contact Americans for Limited Government at (703)383-0880 or at media@algnews.org to arrange an interview with ALG experts including ALG President Nathan Mehrens.

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Sept. 30, 2013, Fairfax, VA—Americans for Limited Government President Nathan Mehrens today issued the following statement urging the Senate to adopt the House-passed continuing resolution that funds the government and defunds and delays implementation of Obamacare for one year:

“The House has done its job. It has passed a continuing resolution that funds the government, and defunds and delays implementation of the not-ready-for-primetime Obamacare for one year. The Senate and White House can accept this gift or leave it, but the health care law in its current form must not be allowed to be implemented. If a government shutdown is so horrible, you’d think the Senate would delay the dysfunctional Obamacare for one year to avoid one.

“In the meantime, Senate Republicans should defeat any continuing resolution that allows funding for Obamacare to go into effect. It is time they take a stand on behalf of the American people.”

Interview Availability: Please contact Americans for Limited Government at (703)383-0880 or at media@algnews.org to arrange an interview with ALG experts including ALG President Nathan Mehrens.

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Sept. 28, 2013, Fairfax, VA—Americans for Limited Government President Nathan Mehrens today issued the following statement praising the House of Representatives for offering a continuing resolution that will delay implementation and funding of Obamacare for one year:

“Americans for Limited Government applauds the House GOP for remaining resolute in their commitment to stop the Obamacare train wreck that is moving forward.”

Interview Availability: Please contact Americans for Limited Government at (703)383-0880  or at media@algnews.org to arrange an interview with ALG experts including ALG President Nathan Mehrens.

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Sept. 27, 2013, Fairfax, VA—Americans for Limited Government President Nathan Mehrens today issued the following statement urging the House of Representatives to stand firm in its opposition to any continuing resolution that allows Obamacare to be funded:

“House Republicans can still win the day on the effort to stop Obamacare if they keep their resolve to fight the implementation of the law. Today’s Senate vote changes nothing and the House is under no obligation to bend to Obama and Harry Reid’s will. The specter of Obamacare hangs over our nation’s economy, threatening the health and well being of millions of Americans.

“The effort to stop Obamacare is now a high stakes game of chicken precipitated by Harry Reid’s unwillingness to talk to House Speaker John Boehner. Americans from all walks of life ranging from heavily Democratic unions like the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and the Nevada AFL-CIO to free market supporters like Americans for Limited Government agree that Obamacare is a disaster waiting to happen.

“If the House Republicans stand firm in their commitment to stop implementation of this law, they will find widespread support. And if Harry Reid remains obstinate, he will find many of his former political allies wondering why they ever supported him in the first place. Now is not the time for the faint of heart. It is time for those who believe in less government to hold the line and to once again send Harry Reid an offer he can’t refuse that funds the government and stops Obamacare from being implemented.”

Interview Availability: Please contact Americans for Limited Government at (703)383-0880 or at media@algnews.org to arrange an interview with ALG experts including ALG President Nathan Mehrens.

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Sept. 27, 2013, Fairfax, VA—Americans for Limited Government President Nathan Mehrens today issued the following statement condemning the U.S. Senate for invoking cloture on a continuing resolution that ultimately will allow Obamacare to be funded:

“It is extremely disappointing that a number of Senate Republicans led by Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Minority Whip John Cornyn joined Harry Reid in allowing Obamacare to be funded. The absurdity of these Republicans complaining about a procedural tactic when the lives and health of millions of Americans are at stake is inexplicable.

“Each of these Republicans have previously opposed Obamacare. With this vote in favor of cloture of a continuing resolution that allows Obamacare to be funded, they have effectively allowed Obama, Reid, and Pelosi to move forward with their train wreck of a plan. In doing so, they can no longer claim that they are willing to do anything it takes to stop Obamacare.

“Unless other actions are taken immediately to stop the implementation of Obamacare, the Senators who voted for cloture today own the law every bit as much as if they had originally supported it. There are some who will try to explain that the Republicans simply don’t have a majority in the Senate. However, unlike when Obamacare was passed, Republicans do have the votes to stop anything in the Senate if they only had the will. And today, by invoking cloture they gave away that power.

“This failure of courage exhibited today will haunt Senate Republicans well into the future.”

Interview Availability: Please contact Americans for Limited Government at (703)383-0880 or at media@algnews.org to arrange an interview with ALG experts including ALG President Nathan Mehrens.

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Sept. 26, 2013 Fairfax, VA—Americans for Limited Government President Nathan Mehrens today issued the following statement urging every senator to vote “no” on ending debate on the continuing resolution that will ultimately allow funding for Obamacare:

“Some Senate Republicans have come forward arguing that it is unfair to characterize those who oppose Ted Cruz’s battle to defund Obamacare as supporting Obamacare.  Yet, how else should one characterize a vote to close debate on a continuing resolution that ultimately allows Obamacare to be funded?

“Cloture is the only vote that matters in the Senate. Any senator who votes ‘yes’ on cloture, is casting a vote that will allow Obamacare to be implemented — it is undeniable. That is the only vote the American people are going to care about. If you vote ‘yes’ for cloture, you support Obamacare.

“It is puzzling that Senate Republicans would then point to the difficulties of passing legislation as the excuse why the Cruz effort is doomed and should have never been attempted, when their alternative is most certainly doomed to failure. Sen. John Cornyn argued on the Sean Hannity program that Republicans just need to get a Senate majority in 2014, and then they could send legislation to Obama that deals with Obamacare, ignoring the fact they will still most likely lack the votes to even get to cloture on such a bill and most certainly will lack the votes to overcome a presidential veto.

“Then, the argument will be that Republicans just need the presidency to undo Obamacare, ignoring the fact that in 2016, the GOP will be even less likely to get a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate — something they have never accomplished — than they are in 2014. So, even if they win the White House, when Democrats filibuster any attempt to undo Obamacare, then the argument will again be they just need more senators to be elected in 2018 to get the job done.

“To follow the Cornyn so-called strategy to its conclusion, the earliest the American people might be able to deal with Obamacare would be in 2019, when it will have been the law of the land for almost a decade. In effect, the Senate Republican strategy to get rid of Obamacare is to allow it to be implemented. It accepts failure as its premise, and to call it plan is the most cynical, condescending trick of all, when it is simply surrender.”

Interview Availability: Please contact Americans for Limited Government at (703)383-0880 or at media@algnews.org to arrange an interview with ALG experts including ALG President Nathan Mehrens.

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