“I’ve heard of people being paid not to work, but I’ve never heard it from the Republican majority before that. I voted for it, and it passed unanimously out of the House, but let’s bring those folks back to work. Let’s reopen this government, and let’s bring back those dedicated Federal employees so they don’t have to stand down there and stop our veterans from going to the World War II Memorial. They’re the folks who are working on all of the things that make our country great, so let’s bring them back to work. We can do that. We are going to pay them. Let’s let them come back and do their jobs”, said Rep. Gene Green.
On October 5, 2013 Rep Gene Green of Texas asked for and was granted permission to address the United States House of Representatives for one minute regarding the government shutdown situation.
“Mr. Speaker and Members, I want to wish a congratulations to our Republican majority and a thank you for bringing a bill to the floor that would guarantee the pay for the furloughed Federal employees. The essential employees who are already working will be paid from existing law, so now we pass it to the Senate where those furloughed employees will be able to be paid.”
“My question of the majority Republicans is: now that we’re going to pay these furloughed employees, let’s bring them back to work. Why would we not bring them back to work if we’re paying for them? I’ve heard of people being paid not to work, but I’ve never heard it from the Republican majority before that. I voted for it, and it passed unanimously out of the House, but let’s bring those folks back to work. Let’s reopen this government, and let’s bring back those dedicated Federal employees so they don’t have to stand down there and stop our veterans from going to the World War II Memorial”, he said.
“They’re the folks who are working on all of the things that make our country great, so let’s bring them back to work. We can do that. We are going to pay them. Let’s let them come back and do their jobs”, said Rep. Gene Green (source: Congressional Record http://thomas.loc.gov).
Rep Green serves on the Committee on Energy and Commerce and a host of Subcommittees including:
Subcommittee on Energy and Power
Subcommittee on Environment and Economy
Subcommittee on Health
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.
By all accounts Gene Green (or “Mean Green” as he is sometimes called) is a no no-nonsense politician that is pretty fed up with the Republican leadership in the House of Representatives at this point, especially in light of the games they are playing and continue to play in Congress.