U.S. Rep. Steve Southerland of Panama City said he’s not willing to back down from the GOP push for deep cuts in federal spending, the
News Herald in Panama City reported Thursday.
The Florida Republican told the newspaper he would not give in to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s proposal for a continuing resolution to extend funding temporarily at its current level, even if that means the government shuts down.
“I think that possibility [of a shutdown] certainly exists, but I will tell you that certainly is not what I want and I’m convinced it’s not what our leadership wants in the House,” Southerland told the News Herald.
The American people understand why the GOP has taken a harder stance against exorbitant spending, he said.
“This is not an ignorant electorate,” Southerland said. “America is waking up to the brutal reality that Washington is disconnected from reality.”
He added that Democrats “are the ones that are out of touch.”
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