Kaine: Shutdown would be ‘huge blow’ to economy, jobs

Sen. Timothy M. Kaine, D-Va., on Wednesday warned of the harmful consequences of a government shutdown and urged Congress to pass a continuing resolution and deal with improvements to the Affordable Care Act later.

“Those who threaten to repudiate our fiscal responsibilities are engaging in economically destructive behavior,” said Kaine, who took the Senate floor once Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, stopped talking after 21 hours and 19 minutes — an effort he touted as a filibuster.

Cruz had hoped to defund the White House-backed health care law or shut down the government by forcing two cycles of up to 30 hours of debate before a final vote no later than Sunday.

Kaine criticized Cruz for his strategy.

“The senator from Texas and every legislator has the ability to raise whatever reforms or whatever funding or defunding ideas they want in these ways — make your case, argue your position, try to convince your colleagues, and then accept the outcome,” Kaine said. “But do not threaten to shut down the government of the United States if you don’t get your way.”

Kaine warned his colleagues that a government shutdown would be a “huge blow” to the economy and jobs.

“The consequences are severe,” he said, adding that the 26 days of shutdown in 1995 and 1996 cost taxpayers $1.4 billion.

If Congress fails to reach a compromise by Monday night, members of the active-duty military would not get paid but would be required to stay on duty, Kaine said.

“They and their families don’t deserve that treatment. Many civilians working in our military — Army nurses, for example — might get furloughed and not paid. Cyber-security professionals, aviation mechanics, they will not be able to do the work that the nation needs them to do,” he said.

In Virginia, Kaine continued, many civilian military contractors would be affected.

“The Newport News shipyard, the manufacturers of the most sophisticated manufactured items on earth, find their contracts are put in question and their employees are, therefore, put at risk,” he said.

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