“I regret that hardworking federal employees and veterans were used as pawns in this high stakes game of chess”, said Speier. Pictured here: American soldiers murdered in Improvised Explosive (IED) attack in Afghanistan.
Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-San Francisco/San Mateo/Redwood City) issued a statement last tonight in response to ending the federal government shutdown and removing the possibility of default on our nation’s debt:
“A reckless element in one party using extremist tactics hijacked Congress, believing they knew better than the leading economists around the world, the majority of their colleagues, and the American people. I have never been so profoundly disappointed by a handful of elected officials who chose to put their personal ambition ahead of the interests of the American people.
“I am pleased and relieved the madness has ended for now. The irreparable damage caused to millions of Americans and our global standing was totally unnecessary and cannot be allowed to happen again. This is not a perfect solution, but it is a product of true bipartisanship to advance the interests of the American people. I applaud Senator Reid, the President, and the courageous Republicans and Democrats in the Senate who forced rationality into the process and trumped the vicious demagoguery of a small renegade group of irresponsible members. They proved that bipartisanship can be reached in Congress.
“I am particularly impressed by the thoughtful input I received from the constituents of my district, who realized how critical it was to uphold the full faith and credit of the United States.
“I regret that hardworking federal employees and veterans were used as pawns in this high stakes game of chess. We should all be humbled by this experience. The last 16 days must serve as a constant reminder of the need to work in a bipartisan fashion and as a cautionary tale of what happens when we do not” (source: Rep. Speier Facebook page).