WASHINGTON, D.C.- While praising Senator Susan Collins' leadership and her effort to end the government shutdown, Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Kelly Ayotte (R-New Hampshire) today endorsed, and called on Senate leaders to consider, a plan first proposed by Senator Collins last weekend. The plan, which Senator Collins outlined on the Senate floor on Saturday, would (1) fund government; (2) repeal the medical device tax imposed by the new health care law but fully offset lost revenue; and (3) give federal agencies the flexibility to manage the across-the-board cuts in their budgets caused by sequestration, subject to congressional oversight.
During speeches on the Senate floor today, Senators Ayotte and Murkowski expressed frustration with the impacts of the government shutdown and backed Senator Collins' proposal to fund the government for six months. In addition, several other of her colleagues have expressed interest in Senator Collins' proposal and she continues to have discussions with them and urge their support.
Senator Collins also spoke on the Senate floor today to renew her call for both sides to come out of their partisan corners and start legislating in good faith.
"It is past time for us to reopen government. I ask my colleagues to take a close look at the plan we have put forward. It is a reasonable approach. We can legislate responsibly and in good faith," said Senator Collins.
Watch Senator Collins' speech here: http://youtu.be/KBP5lyTJWRo