Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-10) released the following statement on the current budget negotiations:

House Republicans are continuing to demand a government shutdown unless we repeal or delay the Affordable Care Act, an act which was debated during the last Presidential election, passed by both Houses of Congress, and signed by President Obama. The President campaigned for reelection saying he would implement it – the Republicans said they would not. The choice was clear and both the President and the Democratic Senate were reelected. This is a completely legitimate law.

The ongoing blackmail of our country is simply undemocratic. It is similar to a 1930s gangster film when they say, “That’s a nice government you’ve got there. That’s a nice economy you’ve got there. It would be a pity if it should happen to blow up if you don’t pay us off by giving us what we want.”

Governing by blackmail is destructive to our form of government. If we give into this, then the minority can rule against the majority. If the House Republicans want to repeal the Affordable Care Act, they should go before the American people and elect a President, elect a majority in both Houses, and make their case. Last time they put that agenda forward, they lost.

If our country gives into this sort of blackmail today, when does it ever stop?

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