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Wolf Blitzer delivers the most important breaking news and political, international, and national security stories of the day. Tune to The Situation Room weekdays 5-7pm ET on CNN.

October 7th, 2013
08:33 PM ET

How to end the government shutdown

Republican Rep. Jeb Hensarling and Democrat Rep. Steve Israel debate how the government shutdown should end and what it would take to reach a compromise.

soundoff (15 Responses)
  1. z.v

    Republican can not stand having a black president in the White House
    It's the problem
    they are opposed everything he does
    even if the President does
    It is good for America.
    When Obama was elected they destroyed the economy
    They tried to shut down the government twice – the second time now.
    They do not care what will happen
    They want to go against the President, that's what they do.

    October 8, 2013 at 7:03 pm |
  2. Ginger Underwood

    I cannot be a silent bystander any longer. Newt Gingrich is a disgrace to this nation for his million dollars worth of advice to the mortgage companies of country that put our economy in the toilet. Then there was the war that G. W. Bush said "He wanted to finish his father's war in Iraq". No news reporter/station had the guts to repeat this comment made by G.W. but I will never forget it, especially when I see all these young soldiers with their arms and legs missing. Also, the Republlicans never DO ANYTHING CONSTRUCTIVE, they just critisize and complain about everything while giving themselves vacations and pay raises. What is to become of this country with people like this running it?

    October 8, 2013 at 6:38 pm |
  3. barbara field

    Since our govt is "On Strike" and not working will there be a pro-rate for our Federal Taxes and until they come up with that figure.....no one should pay their taxes. Also, out here in the "real world" and we are "on strike" no one gets PAID. If govt employees are NOt working....they should NOT get paid!!!

    October 8, 2013 at 5:54 pm |
  4. Pat McCLure

    Is it appropriate (are there precedents?) to fight a law you don't agree with by refusing to fund it instead of working to repeal it or revise it into impotence? The Tea Party considers it the height of cleverness to hold the budget hostage, but is that a sustainable option for losing sides? Is defunding an accepted strategem? Doesn't that increase mistrust?

    Boehner's speech opened up the subject (from "kill Obamacare") to government overspending, something both sides can be expected to be willing to work on. Why can't the Democrats just respond on that issue alone and ignore the inciting strategy (burning the house down to kill health care)?

    Since Obama has openly proposed revising entitlements, why can't that be a substantial opening gambit for future negotiations to start immediately? Why couldn't we redefine Social Security as a guaranteed *floor* for all Americans and avoid the travesty of Gateses and Buffetts receiving a monthly pension check from the government?

    October 8, 2013 at 5:51 pm |
  5. Rich Texas

    Why did the congress wait until a few days before the default date to act? That is simply irresponsible crisis management. These people are paid to help decide the fate of this country by their legislation and when they fail to legislate they fail Americans. As far as I am concerned congress is public enemy number one They are the greatest threat to America.

    October 8, 2013 at 5:39 pm |
  6. Larry Hawkins

    Please ask Rep. Jeb Hensarling and Democrat Rep. Steve Israel if I can have their job, because I'd like to have a job where I could be such an abject failure and get paid as much as they do.

    ...or... ask them if anyone in congress ever has an original thought, because all I hear anyone saying is the talking points someone else wrote for them?

    Of course these aren't really serious questions, they are just a reflection of how angry I am.

    October 8, 2013 at 5:27 pm |
  7. ervin paravicini

    stop interviewing Congress and start to interview the people on the streets. maybe this would get some kind of a response from our great leaders.

    October 8, 2013 at 4:53 pm |
  8. Bruce Bell

    The press itself needs to stop trying to achieve balance. Sometime trying to be a far arbiter, at the expense of honesty and integrity only exasperates the process. The only way to end this impasse is to expose the Republicans for what they are, poor losers and frankly anarchists. An election was held and won by President Obama. Democracy has winners and losers, but elections come again. Accepting the will of the majority is fundamental to what America stands for. Is this what has come of America, where fringe elements, who don't have broad popular support attempt to bring America to its knees. I say bring them up on charges of treason. Boehner needs to hold a vote. If he values democracy, then put t to a democratic vote. Are the Republicans too busy ?

    And let me add, just because someone is a Republican, doesn't mean they have to tow the party line. History has shown us that identifying with and blindly following the party line, just for the sake of doing so, can lead to disaster. Republican voters need to steer the Republican party back to its roots.

    October 8, 2013 at 3:35 pm |
  9. Lee

    Wolf, hope this email gets to you soon. Someone should do an investigation on this point as soon as possible AND YOU SHOULD START RAISING THIS ISSUE ON YOUR SHOW RIGHT AWAY SINCE IT JUST MAY GET THINGS MOVING.

    I certainly hope our forefathers had a back door for this situation. IF, congress refuses to pass the Debt Ceiling Law, to me, that indeed would put our country in a National Security crisis as well as causing many other problems including with foreign countries, etc. Eventually, also, if they do not pass the budget due to the health care act being law now, we will eventually be in a National Security crisis. SO, WOULD THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF HAVE THE POWER TO ACT IN SOMEWAY, ALMOST LIKE WE ARE AT WAR to FORCE congress to take action or BY A LAW OR LAWS HIS EXECUTIVE POWER COULD ATTACH TO AND HE TAKE ACTION?

    If we don't have such a provision somewhere out there, as a nation we could be in real trouble. This entire situation has made me sick of the entire democracy that we continue to push down other peoples throats to be the best and free government in the world for other countries but yet our forefathers have lost their lives defending it and when we cannot get along as a governing party it makes us ALL AMERICANS look like idiots.

    We have a WAR ACT, HOPEFULLY, WE HAVE OTHER ACTS TO ALLOW THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF THE GOVERNMENT TO CALL AN END TO ALL OF THIS under the SECURITY interest of our nation since financially it will end up putting us in that SECURITY situation.

    One last point, since the Republicans are the ones that want the Health Care Act gone causing this stalemate, why don't they fight to get more in office and down the road try and reverse the law verses trying to create law by refusing to not pass bills. And I have been voting republican for several years and am to the point that perhaps its time our nation get ready for an INDEPENDENT to upset the apply cart some. It is rediculous as to what we have become as a nation as to where we are today.

    Thank you.

    October 8, 2013 at 3:07 pm |
  10. Lynn

    The President said that raising the debt ceiling is not raising the debt. The American People are not that stupid. The debt ceiling limit is analogous to a credit card debt limit. Credit card companies do not raise credit limits when Americans go over their debt limit. The American People get a bad credit rating. The reason the debt ceiling needs to be raised is because the President and Congress has spent more money than they had and are over the current debt limit. This a no brainer. The US needs to be more financially responsible. Fix the budget and stop the politics.

    October 8, 2013 at 2:42 pm |
  11. Jim

    Health care act is a law which has passed by houses and president and also Supreme Court.

    Now if Republicans wants to repeal or delay it we should change the constitution and all the laws on put on statute by Republicans and retire all the reublicals supreme court justices because we just want to repeal it as per some people. These extremists wants to demolish the laws so lets vote on constitution and disolve it as that is killing and destroying America.

    October 8, 2013 at 1:29 pm |
  12. Valerie Handelsman

    Watching CSpan2 – Live with Pete Sessions and guest Van Hollen
    Rules Committee 1:00pm
    Wolf, I see this as some sort of treason A very dangerous group of people are established within the Republican party. As I watch coverage day after day I become more and more concerned. Something very serious is going on. You are greatly appreciated; your coverage is first class. Please keep up the good work. What can the public do about this?

    October 8, 2013 at 1:22 pm |
  13. Albert mascolo

    How to, and a government shutdown fire all of them, and replaced them, or simply take a vote. It's a no-brainer. They'd rather hold a gun and then negotiate while holding everybody hostage that's the tea party for your the peopleAre going to get this on the next ballot, so people can vote that the government cannot shut down andBe held hostage

    October 8, 2013 at 12:15 pm |
  14. David Seppala

    Shutdown could be solved immediately if the Senate votes on the bills that the House has passed. If they don't like them let them vote them down, forcing the House to redo them. Why not let the Senate vote?

    October 8, 2013 at 11:12 am |
  15. Jim Thomas

    IMPEACH ALL OF GOVERNMENT,city,state,county,and federal,that will take care of the whole problem.They are all traitors to the people of the USA anyway.Jim Thomas Phoenix,Az.

    October 7, 2013 at 8:45 pm |

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