Lucas,
Since I sent the below message last week, a number of key Florida Republicans have distanced themselves from their party's shutdown of the government. Will you help us keep up the pressure and get the government open again?
Rep. Dennis Ross (R-Lakeland) said in an editorial this week, "We need to get the government running again."
Illeana Ros Lehtinen (R-Miami) blasted the shutdown as "political posturing".
Both reactions follow similar concerns echoed by Congressmen Tom Rooney (R-Tequesta) and Vern Buchanan (R-Sarasota).
Florida Republicans are feeling the heat, and we can't let up until their needless obstructionism ends and our government reopens.
For progress,
Mark Ferrulo
Executive Director
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Mark Ferrulo, Progress Florida <mark@progressflorida.org>
Date: Tue, Oct 1, 2013 at 9:00 AM
Subject: Shut down the shutdown
Friend,
Tea Party Republicans have had one of their biggest dreams come true.
A government shutdown is underway, not because of any outside threat or disaster, but simply because Republicans refuse to pass a budget unless the Affordable Care Act is gutted. Enough is enough - it's time for all Floridians who value common sense to raise their voices and demand an end to the nonsense.
This unnecessary government shutdown will do tremendous damage to hard working Floridians if it's allowed to continue. From our children to our seniors, Floridians will suffer thanks to the ideological intransigence of the GOP. Here's what we're talking about:
- Our veterans: New benefit claims by our veterans for education, life insurance, home loans, and other benefits could be delayed. Florida is home to more than 1.5 million veterans.
- Our seniors: Applications for new social security benefits could be delayed and services for seniors will be dramatically curtailed. More than 4 million Floridians received social security benefits last year.
- Our children: Head Start agencies served more than 38,000 Florida children last year, and an ongoing government shutdown could cause these centers to close.
- Our small businesses: The Small Business Administration supports thousands of local businesses throughout Florida through loans, and a shutdown will put a stop to this critical source of credit until the government resumes operation.
- Our middle class families: More than 89,000 federal employees call Florida home, and a shutdown will force cuts and delays in pay, meaning less spending going into local economies.
All of this damage is being done, and for what? So Republicans can try to undo a law passed by Congress, signed by the President and upheld by the Supreme Court? So Republicans can try to stop 30 million Americans from getting access to quality, affordable health care? This is just nuts, and it's time for Floridians to put significant pressure on Republicans in Congress to come to their senses.
Republicans in Congress need to learn that holding the entire government hostage every time they don't get their way will be met by an avalanche of opposition from regular Floridians. We need Congress to get back to work on the serious issues that matter, like creating middle class jobs, and stop trying to sabotage efforts to expand health care access for millions of Florida families.
Let's make sure Florida Republicans in Congress get the message to "shut down the shutdown".
For progress,
Mark and the rest of the Progress Florida team
PS: Forward this email to your friends and family so Floridians understand the real impact of this shutdown and put pressure on Republicans to end it ASAP.