Capito calling for “mature voices” in spending bill talks

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A partial government shutdown is underway with Congress’ failure to pass a crucial spending bill before the midnight deadline.

Second District Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) said she does not think a shutdown should have happened.  “We need to have mature voices in the room that are willing to give a little to get a little,” she said.

Before the 12 a.m. deadline, she suggested a compromise spending bill that would temporarily keep the government running, as usual, for the next two weeks.

“I am adamantly opposed to shutting down the government,” said Capito. “It would just be neon lights of dysfunction if we closed the government down.”

The new fiscal year starts on Tuesday. With no agreement between Republicans and Democrats on a spending bill, many government operations will not be funded from the beginning of October.

The bill is hung up on attempts from House Republicans to tie it to the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare. The latest House bill would have delayed the law’s individual mandate while prohibiting lawmakers, their staff and top administration officials from getting government subsidies for their health care. The Senate rejected it.

This shutdown is the first for the federal government since 1996.