WASHINGTON, DC - With a government shutdown looming if Congress fails to reach a budget deal by midnight on Friday, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) today warned that shutting down the federal government would be "irresponsible, needlessly disruptive, and could hinder economic recovery."  Reed also said a shutdown remains "avoidable" if both sides are willing to reach a deal.
 
"The Republican House leadership has a shared responsibility to govern.  The American people want their government to work and they want their representatives in Washington to work together.  Forcing the government to shut down sends a terrible signal to the American people and could create undue hardships for families and businesses.  That is a risk we can do without during these difficult economic times," said Reed
 
Back in February, House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) proposed cutting $32 billion from the budget for 2011.  Yet, rather than work in a bipartisan manner to achieve that goal, the Speaker has continued to move the goalposts for negotiation ever closer to the demands of a minority in his caucus who want dangerous and extreme cuts that don't have the support of most Americans.
 
Congress has already passed six short-term measures that have temporarily kept the federal government open while cutting $10 billion out of this year's budget.  And prior to today there was a real hope that Senate and House leaders could agree to a level of $33 billion in additional cuts (or $73 billion when measured against the President's FY 2011 request) and prevent a government shutdown and all the difficulties the country experienced during the Newt Gingrich shutdowns in 1995 and 1996. 
 
"Democrats offered a responsible plan to cut spending, but Republicans are now unwilling to accept a rational compromise that meets them more than halfway.  They seem intent on going back to Newt Gingrich's failed playbook," said Reed, asking: "Once Republicans shut the government down, what will be their solution for reopening it?"
 
Last month, the U.S. Senate voted 56-44 to reject the House-passed spending plan that would have cut $61 billion from education, health, and public safety programs.  Republicans needed 60 votes to advance the tea-party-backed measure in the Senate, and failed to muster even 50.
 
"Instead of focusing on creating jobs, a shutdown could put hundreds of thousands of Americans out of work and likely create real problems for small and mid-size businesses that do business with the government," noted Reed.
 
According to the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation (RIEDC), the federal government is the state's third largest employer, with 11,581 employees (not including 3,000 active duty military personnel and 7,000 reservists).  If the government shuts down, contingency plans would go into effect and agencies would continue to provide functions relating to national security, critical foreign relations, and the safety of life and property.  However, thousands of Rhode Islanders who work for the federal government, as well as contractors providing information-technology support and other services might also be instructed to stay home.
 
"People need to remember that if the government shuts down, the bills will still pile up.  The Gingrich-led government shutdowns of 1995 and 1996 lasted 26 days and cost taxpayers over $1.4 billion.  We can't afford to repeat these mistakes," concluded Reed.  "What we need is for the House leadership to accept a reasonable compromise which can pass with bipartisan support.  Without that kind of compromise, we risk some real danger to the job growth we've seen over the last few months, and, if that national trend is thwarted, Rhode Island's chances of better economic news is thwarted too."
 
The U.S. House of Representatives rules require bills be posted for 72 hours before any vote -- meaning any agreement to prevent a shutdown must be reached by tonight in order to be considered by midnight on Friday, when government funding runs out.