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The federal government shutdown ended yesterday (Thursday) morning when President Barack Obama signed legislation, passed by both the House of Representatives and the Senate, to raise the nation's borrowing limit before the United States would have been unable to pay its bills.  Of Lansing representatives both Senators Gillibrand (D) and Charles Schumer (D) voted Wednesday night to reopen the government.  But in the House Congressman Tom Reed voted against the bill.

"The 23rd district of New York did not send me to Washington to support the status quo of government by crisis," Reed said. "This country needs a long-term solution that stops the endless cycle of crises and kicking the can down the road. Enough is enough. We cannot keep borrowing to cover uncontrolled spending without jeopardizing our children and grandchildren’s future. No one wants a default but that is exactly what will happen sooner or later if we do not deal with this problem."

The compromise bill funds the government through January 15.  It extends the $16.7 trillion debt ceiling through February 7th.  While it includes back pay for workers furloughed for the past two weeks, it has little impact on the Affordable Health Care Act colloquially known as Obamacare, which Republicans had sought to defund.

Tompkins County Legislature Chair Martha Robertson (D, Dryden) criticized Reed's voting record on the shutdown late Wednesday night.  Robertson is challenging Reed for his congressional seat in next year's election.

“Congressman Tom Reed’s refusal to support the bi-partisan resolution to reopen the government and avoid a default shows that he is willing to tow the Tea Party line at all costs, even when the well-being of Veterans, senior citizens, and the entire economy is at risk," she said.  "Not only did Congressman Reed vote four times to shut down the government and vote 17 times to refuse to reopen the government, he has also repeatedly rejected the efforts of his fellow Republicans in both the Senate and House to avoid a default and reopen the government."

New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli (D) said ending shutdown is only a step toward solving the country's fiscal problems, and that the government's failure to reach long-term budget solutions could have severe consequences for the economy and the financial markets in New York as well as the nation and around the world.


"The self-imposed turmoil in Washington created by a dug-in group of legislators was irresponsible and not the kind of leadership our country needs," DiNapoli said.  "Failure to reach an agreement could have been catastrophic. We should not have come so close to reaching that point, risking our leadership position in the global economy. It remains to be seen whether delaying action to the last minute will leave lingering damage."

Reed says he wants a responsible long term solution that curbs spending and reduces the national debt.

"I will work tirelessly in support of a long-term solution before the next crisis dates looming just three months away," he says.  "Our country deserves real solutions and I offer my ‘Honest Proposal."

Robertson claims his agenda is political and not in the best interest of constituents.

"Although Congressman Reed tries to pose as a moderate while in New York, his actions tell a different story," she says.  "His obstructionism in the face of this crisis is reckless and irresponsible, and shows his willingness to put the extreme ideology of the Tea Party ahead of the U.S. economy and his constituents."

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