GA Dems Say Elected Officials Must be Held Accountable

Time for leaders in Washington to win back trust

Georgia Democrats expressed relief today with the halting of the federal government shutdown, but expressed displeasure in the accountability of Congress to conduct the people’s business.

“While the short-term deal reached Wednesday will delay permanent harm to the economy, the GOP obstructionists who engaged in brinksmanship with the lives of millions of Americans must be held to a higher standard by their constituents.  We are elected to do the business of government, and if we fail to do our jobs, legislators must be held to account,” said Rep. Stacey Abrams, leader of the Georgia House Minority Caucus.

President Barack Obama signed a measure into law reopening the federal government and averting a potential default. The White House budget office has instructed federal workers to return to work Thursday morning. The measure restores funding for the government through Jan. 15 and extends the nation’s borrowing authority through Feb. 7.

Senate Democratic Leader Steve Henson concurred with Abrams and said it’s time to lift the cloud of uncertainty.

“It’s time for leaders in Washington to win back the trust of Americans lost during the debt and spending crisis,” Henson said. “The current legislation will permit the Treasury to borrow normally through Feb. 7, or perhaps a month longer, and fund the government through Jan. 15, but the cloud of financial uncertainty must be lifted.’

Georgia relies on the federal government for nearly a third of its state’s revenue. The full impact of the federal shutdown was only weeks away in Georgia and would have impacted thousands of Georgia families. Georgia’s balanced state budget relies upon $11 billion in federal funding.

“It’s time to take the threat of default off the table. It’s time to restore some sanity to government. Democrats stand ready to do our part and hold elected official accountable,” said DuBose Porter, chairman of the Democratic Party of Georgia.

Georgia Democrats are unified to ensure that the state budget reflect the priorities of Georgians, including education, health care and an unemployment safety net for those who lose their jobs during an economic downturn.

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