Government Shutdown One Year Later: Aguilar Vows to Work Across the Aisle, Says "Never Again" and "Not on my Watch" to Future Shutdowns

Press Release

Redlands Mayor Pete Aguilar, Democratic candidate for Congress in California's 31st district, released the following statement condemning last year's irresponsible government shutdown and vowing to work with members of both parties to ensure a shutdown never happens again. The 2013 government closure, brought on by House Republicans' unwillingness to work across the aisle and compromise on the federal budget, lasted almost a month, jeopardized Social Security and Medicare claims, suspended VA services and halted funding for domestic violence victims across the country.

"Last year's government shutdown was an embarrassment and incredibly detrimental to our country's economy," said Aguilar. "The millions of people who rely on a working government, like veterans and seniors, expect Congress to do its job and keep the government open. This region deserves a representative in Washington who has experience working with Republicans and Democrats to balance budgets, and who will stand up and say "never again' to any future shutdowns. Governing from crisis to crisis and threatening the faith and credit of our country will not happen on my watch."

As both the Mayor of Redlands and a member of the city's council, Aguilar worked across the aisle to solve the city's budget crisis turning a multi-million dollar deficit into a surplus, passing balanced budgets for five straight years, improving the city's credit rating and boosting the business climate in Redlands.

Aguilar's opponent, Republican Paul Chabot, has instead advocated for across the board cuts to all programs and has campaigned and fundraised with House Republicans, like NRCC Chairman Greg Walden and Rep. Gary Miller, who by refusing to compromise, were responsible for last year's shutdown

Source