Md. Lawmakers Discuss 11th Hour Deal To End Government Shutdown
WASHINGTON (WJZ) -- Congress reaches a deal to end the government shutdown. And that will bring thousands of Marylanders back to work.
Mary Bubala spoke with Maryland's congressional members about the deal.
Another day of frantic maneuvering on Capitol Hill and protests outside.
Maryland's delegation is speaking to WJZ about the announcement. Finally, there is a solid deal to end the shutdown and get federal workers back on the job.
"I think they'll be back to work by Monday," said Rep. Elijah Cummings, (D) Maryland.
Maryland's Republican Congressman Andy Harris says lawmakers are now entering, though, an intense four months of negotiations over spending cuts with this new deal.
"What bothers me is it does nothing to control spending. We're going to pass a spending bill that still has a $650 billion annual deficit in it. We're going to delay a debt ceiling to another date when we have nothing in that bill that addresses long term deficit issues," Harris said.
It's something Maryland's Democratic Senator Ben Cardin echoed during a news conference on how the shutdown affected Maryland businesses that rely on outdoor recreation.
"We still have a major challenge ahead of us," said Cardin. "And that is, how are we going to work out the differences, and there are differences, between what the Democrats and Republicans want to see as the budget for this country?"
Maryland Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger says the 16 day shutdown has sickened his constituents.
"They have a right to be fed up," he said. "I think it's wrong what has happened. Here's an example when you don't deal with an issue of compromise, when you won't work things out. That's who we are as a country."
Maryland's 140,000 furloughed federal workers should be back on the job sometime next week.
Other Local News:
