You may be asking yourself, "How did we get here?" Great question. 

 

At first, the thought of a Republican shutdown was an ideologically driven threat to oppose the Affordable Care Act. Over the following days, that threat continued as they refused to pass a clean bill funding our government. With two days until another GOP manufactured crisis, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle continued to play politics. Until finally, they actually shut down our federal government. 

 

I was and still am dismayed and disgusted that the Republican Party took their ideological fight over Obamacare this far. 

 

 

The GOP has not only pushed us to the brink of another manufactured crisis, they have forced our country over the edge. This childish act not only impacts thousands of federal government employees, it could also close the vital nutrition program for Women, Infants and Children, temporarily suspend government-backed small business loans and send a devastating shock wave through our economy. 

 

 

How will Wisconsin be affected by the federal shutdown? Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Jason Stein and Patrick Marley explain. 

 

 

 

 

Despite the appalling behavior demonstrated by the Republican Party yesterday evening, they have not and will not prevent the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. As I have said many times, the Obamacare train has left the station. The health care marketplaces opened this morning and millions will have access to health insurance for the first time. Today I applauded this achievement!