WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today met with a group of 13 bipartisan Senators as they work to forge a deal to end the government shutdown and raise the debt limit before October 17 – the date after which the U.S. government won’t be able to pay its bills.

Over the past several days, Heitkamp has been working with a group of Democratic and Republican Senators – led by Senator Susan Collins (R-ME).  As the negotiations in the House have deteriorated, this group of Senators has continued to work together to try to reach a compromise solution.

“We are seeing important progress toward a deal,” said Heitkamp.  “I have been working with 12 other Senators – Republicans and Democrats – to try to work together and find some common ground.  Our priority is to reopen the government, and protect our economy and North Dakota families.  As discussions in the Senate continue, I’m hopeful we will soon have a solid deal that accomplishes both.”

Heitkamp also spoke on the Senate floor on Sunday, reinforcing the need for Congress to gain some common sense, reopen the federal government, and raise the debt limit.  She also spoke about the absurdity of the House Republicans voting to pay furloughed federal employees, but refusing to vote for a bill to fund the federal government which would let those employees come back to work.

Background:

The government shutdown is costing us $160 million per day.  In 2011 – the last time Congress came close to the deadline to extend the debt limit -- the uncertainty and delays in raising the debt limit cost taxpayers about $1.3 billion in fiscal year 2011. 

If we do not raise the debt limit, it could:

• Permanently raise interest rates, driving up costs for American families.
• Interrupt Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and veterans benefits, as well as payments to troops serving at home and abroad.
• Increase mortgage and credit card interest payments.
• Weaken the dollar, driving up the price families pay for utilities, food, and gas.
• Cause uncertainty in the financial markets, leading to losses in retirement savings.
• Interrupt essential federal help to communities across North Dakota and the country for law enforcement, transportation, and other critical investments that could cause property taxes to go up.
• Downgrade America’s credit rating, which would have far-reaching economic consequences, including pushing the country back into a deep economic recession and diminishing America’s economic status in the world.

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