Weekend vote to keep government open has WA state politicians calling for bipartisanship
While all of Washington state's representatives in D.C. — Democrats and Republicans — voted in favor of keeping the government open on Saturday, it's only a short-term solution. As work continues to find a final fix, U.S. Sen. Patty Murray sent a plea to Republicans in the wake of the vote.
"Let's now leave behind the partisan politics being championed by the loudest voices, who are the farthest on the right, and come together so we can help people and solve problems, just like we were sent to do," Murray said after Saturday's vote.
RELATED: GOP wants Rep. Jamaal Bowman punished after he triggered a fire alarm on Saturday
She also had some words of advice for House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a California Republican who has attempted to keep work moving while also facing members of his own party who want him gone.
"I urge [McCarthy] not to retreat back to a partisan corner, not to push for extreme partisan spending bills that go back on the deal he made just a few months ago," Murray said. "If you follow the most extreme members of your party and go down that same partisan path, they're going to lead you to the same dead end."
The measure approved Saturday keeps the federal government open for another 45 days, while the House debates appropriations bills. Sen. Murray notes that she and her colleagues have 12 bipartisan bills in the Senate that have passed out of committee with overwhelming support.
Murray, and the rest of Washington's Democratic delegation, voted in favor of the bill to avoid a government shutdown. Washington's Republican Representatives, Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Dan Newhouse, also voted in favor of keeping the government open. Newhouse said he's committed to ensuring fiscal responsibility and passing appropriations bills are the best way to do so.
After the vote, Democratic Rep. Suzan DelBene said that, "House Republicans must abandon extremism and work with Democrats and the Senate to avoid this same scenario again in a few weeks."
Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez also commented that she was, "frustrated that we've had to endure all these shenanigans and stress out our service members and all the people who would suffer if we hadn't done this work ... I'm committed to fight for a better deal and more durable funding that is truly bipartisan."
Rep. Derek Kilmer echoed those sentiments.
"I intend to push hard for Congress to stop kicking the can and pass a bipartisan budget consistent with the agreement made by Democrats and Republicans back in May," Kilmer said in a statement. "There is no excuse for continued brinkmanship and chaos. The American people deserve better."
