On Sunday, This Week’s Jonathan Karl asked Sen. Ted Cruz (RWNJ) a direct question about upcoming budget negotiations, saying, “Will you rule out pushing to the brink of another shutdown by saying you would block funding for the government unless Obamacare is defunded? Will you do that again?”
Cruz didn't reject the idea that he would cause another shutdown, saying, “I would do anything and I will continue to do anything I can to stop the train wreck that is Obamacare. What I will do is continue standing the American people, because it isn't working, it’s costing people jobs, and it’s taking away their health care.”
Cruz and Sen. Mike Lee (RWNJ) were originally responsible for getting 14 of their colleagues to sign on to demanding the defunding of Obamacare in return for keeping the government open and, later, raising the debt ceiling. While some conservatives are still with Cruz in continuing to push for fights over defunding the law, other Republicans are calling for the party to move on. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) called it “a losing strategy.”
While the shutdown cost the economy $24 billion and brinkmanship over the debt ceiling could still lead to another downgrade of U.S. credit, Republicans have little to show for it.
NFTOS
STAFF WRITER
