Bill Clinton: Gov Shutdown Could Hurt GOP

Experts are divided as to whether a government shutdown would be more likely to hurt Democrats or Republicans in political terms. Former President Bill Clinton weighed in Monday, saying it could be Republicans, The Hill reports. He also says a shutdown wouldn’t hurt the economy as such as it did in 1995-96.

"I think it could hurt the Republicans if it looks like the Democrats have a reasonable offer," Clinton told ABC’s "Good Morning America." He said, "If the Republicans want to refuse to raise the debt limit, they are playing Russian roulette with our economy."

But systemic changes have been made since 1995 that would lessen the impact of a shutdown, Clinton said. "It will not have the traumatic effect it probably had last time."