Minn. Politicians React To Shutdown Deal
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Reaction to the deal is not all over the map, surprisingly.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) is expressing optimism that lessons have been learned and this type of crisis will not happen again. Conservatives like Rep. Michele Bachmann say they are not done fighting.
With the announcement of a deal, the bruising political battle that led to the 16 day government shutdown appears to be almost over. Klobuchar worked with a bipartisan group of women senators to help achieve the breakthrough.
"This means a lot," she said. "It means we are going to open the government again, it means we are going to be paying our bills. But most importantly is that it set up a long term way to resolved this by pushing the House budget and Senate budget and pushing them into one conference committee."
Republicans got almost none of what they had been fighting for. But Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) says Democrats don't see this as a victory.
"This is not a time about saying who won or who lost," he said, adding: "I am relieved today because it looks like we are going to reopen the government. We are not going to default we are going to pay our bills."
The measure is expected to pass the Senate and House with Tea Party members, such as Bachmann, voting no.
"The American people lost and the president won, pushing his own personal political agenda," she said.
The deal creates new deadlines. The government is only funded through Jan. 15, and the debt ceiling is raised through Feb. 17.
Klobuchar is optimistic a shutdown will not happen again.
"We cannot just keep lurching from financial crisis to financial crisis," she said.
Again the deal is expected to pass the Republican controlled house. Rep. John Kline is among the Republicans saying he will vote yes.
We have not yet heard from Republican Congressman Erik Paulsen.
