Jim Rosica
Saying there’s six more days before a possible shutdown of the federal government, Congresswoman Gwen Graham called on Republican leadership to pass a budget extension.
The government’s money is running out, with a partial shutdown set for Oct. 1 unless lawmakers approve more funds.
According to the Associated Press, Congress also “likely will need to vote to raise the debt ceiling so that the government can borrow money to meet its existing financial commitments.”
A 2013 shutdown lasted 16 days. Graham, a Democrat, represents the 2nd Congressional District in north Florida.
“Just months after threatening a Homeland Security shutdown and only two years after the last government shutdown, Congressional leadership is playing games again,” she said in a statement.
“The people of North Florida don’t think this is a game,” Graham added. “The uncertainty in Washington hurts businesses, service members and families. I’m calling on Speaker (John) Boehner and Congressional leadership to quit playing political games and bring a clean budget extension to the floor this week.”
The budget crunch “is hurting our military and communities,” she added.
“We need to pass a clean continuing resolution to prevent a shutdown, then Republicans and Democrats need to negotiate a smarter budget that reduces the debt and supports the men and women serving at Tyndall and Naval Support Activity PC – and the farmers, families and seniors in North Florida that depend on essential services.”
But Graham, elected last year, could lose her seat because of a court case over gerrymandering in Florida’s congressional redistricting. Gerrymandering refers to wrongly drawing political lines to benefit a particular party or incumbent.
The Florida Supreme Court ordered U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown‘s district, which now runs north-south from Jacksonville from Sanford, to be redrawn “in an east-west manner.”
That would stretch it into Graham’s territory in the Big Bend and Panhandle, likely taking away Democratic votes in Gadsden and Leon counties.
She has declined to comment on the litigation, saying she will “wait to see what the outcome is.”
