The government may be back open, but Congress still has significant work to do to prevent another shutdown early next year, as lawmakers must finish the remaining appropriations bills to restore stable operations, Rep. Ryan Zinke told Newsmax on Friday.
“The good thing is we’re through this first obstacle of bringing the government back to life,” the Montana Republican said on Newsmax’s “Wake Up America.”
Still, he said, “the government’s a huge machine, and you just don’t flip a switch.”
“There’s still going to be air traffic delays,” Zinke said. “We’re going to see this. And slowly, we’ll be operating back to normal, but it’s going to take a while. The good thing is our federal workers now have a paycheck.”
He also emphasized the personal impact of shutdowns, describing the effect on military families and federal employees.
“You know, as a former Navy SEAL, there are a couple of things you don’t mess with,” he said. “You don’t mess with the sailor’s pay, because when you do, you also mess with the sailor’s family’s pay.”
Meanwhile, there were three out of 12 appropriations bills that were part of the deal to reopen the government, but Congress has nine more to finish, Zinke stressed.
If Congress completes its work on the bills, another shutdown can be avoided in February, said Zinke.
“I think everyone’s focused on making sure we don’t go through a government shutdown, at least on the Republican side, because it hurts innocent people,” he said.
Both parties should feel urgency, given the limits of a continuing resolution, he added, while emphasizing the need to move defense and other key spending bills forward.
“Defense, itself, is the big one,” he said. “Things change in the battlefield rapidly, and we have to adapt.”
Failing to pass appropriations, he added, is a failure of Congress, not the administration.
Zinke also on Friday said Americans want less political fighting and more efficiency from their government.
“Let’s sit down, and let’s look at focusing on what America needs,” said Zinke.
He also weighed in on President Donald Trump’s proposal for $2,000 tariff rebate checks for families making under $100,000, saying lawmakers must review the details.
“I think the president recognizes that a lot of families are struggling,” he said. “The economy is tough, and he’s looking at ways to make sure he helps the families that are struggling.”
But it will be up to Congress to be sure that lawmakers have their say on the measure, said Zinke.
“I look forward to looking at the details of what the president, you know, is thinking and how to distribute it,” he commented.
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