SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — South Dakota officials are speaking out after the government shut down Tuesday night.
South Dakota Republican Rep. Dusty Johnson has released his statement in the wake of the shutdown.
“I’ve said it thousands of times – shutdowns are stupid. The House has done its work to avoid a shutdown, and I voted to keep the government open. Unfortunately, Senate Democrats voted to shut the government down, putting the American workers’ paychecks at risk. Instead, Democrats want $1.5 trillion of new, unnecessary spending to continue COVID-era health care subsidies for illegal immigrants and rich Americans. I will not receive a paycheck during a shutdown, but that doesn’t mean I’ll stop working to find a solution. I’ve even introduced the Eliminate Shutdowns Act to prevent shutdowns from ever happening again. Shutdowns are costly and do not serve the American people.”
A news release from the South Dakota Democratic Party stated Democrats offered a package that “would have kept healthcare affordable for millions of Americans, but the GOP refused to negotiate.”
“It is disheartening that Republicans, who control the House, Senate and White House, have decided a shutdown is more important than coming to the table to negotiate with Democrats,” South Dakota Democratic Party Chair Shane Merrill said in a news release.
The news release stated around 11,500 South Dakotans work for the federal government, many of them not receiving a paycheck until the shutdown ends.
