'Shutdowns are stupid,' Rep. Dusty Johnson says as deadline nears

"I don't think there should be a shutdown. I think shutdowns are stupid. I think a basic responsibility of Congress is to keep the government open,"

"The central question is, while we're doing our negotiations to fund the government, should those negotiations take place with [the] government open or government shut? It is clear to me they should take place while [the] government is open,"

"A six-week CR is not going to be the last opportunity they have to address funding or appropriations over the course of the next year,"

"Six weeks is just six weeks a year is 52 weeks. They are going to get another bite at the apple."

With hours left before a midnight deadline, Republicans and Democrats remain deadlocked over a spending plan to prevent a government shutdown. Democrats met with President Trump but left without a deal and no further talks were scheduled. A lapse in funding would furlough hundreds of thousands of federal employees and disrupt public services. Democrats demand that any short-term funding undo earlier GOP health care cuts and extend Affordable Care Act subsidies expiring at year-end. GOP leaders press for quick passage of a House bill to keep the government open through Nov. 21. Rep. Dusty Johnson urges a six-week continuing resolution to allow negotiations while the government remains open.

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