Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) spoke on Tuesday in favor of House legislation that would create a bipartisan working group to negotiate a resolution to the pending debt limit and ensure government employees working without pay received their paychecks on time.
“House Republicans are committed to finding a path forward to reopen the government and address the looming debt limit, but we can’t do it alone,” Blackburn said.
The proposal sent to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid establishes a bipartisan committee made of House and Senate leaders to work out differences and reach a compromise to end the federal government shutdown.
“We have an obligation to the American people to work together and talk through this,” Blackburn said. “In fairness to hard-working taxpayers and future generations, we have a responsibility to come up with a fiscally responsible solution to deal with Washington’s out-of-control spending and solve our nation’s debt crisis.”
Blackburn said the bill would ensure that essential employees who are working without pay would be able to receive their paychecks on time.
Blackburn said she hopes the two parties would be able, “to come to the negotiating table and ensure those who serve to protect us continue to get paid.”
The bill passed the House on Tuesday and awaits approval in the Senate.