Graves pins blame for looming shutdown on Democrats

GET IN TOUCHTo contact Rep. Tom Graves' office, go to www.tomgraves.house.gov or call 202-225-5211.

DALTON, Ga.-As the federal government faced the likelihood of a partial shutdown at midnight, U.S. Rep. Tom Graves said the onus is on Democrats if they do not pass a stopgap measure passed Thursday afternoon by the House.

But a local Democratic leader said Republicans in Washington have not tried to work with Democrats to end the fiscal logjam.

Graves, R-Ranger, the newly elected congressman from the 9th District, voted for the House bill, which would fund the government for one more week and fully fund the Pentagon through the end of the fiscal year in September. The bill also included $12 billion in cuts to federal spending.

President Barack Obama called the measure "a distraction" and promised to veto it, according to an article from The Associated Press.

Leaders of the Democratic-led Senate have said they do not plan to pass the bill.

"What is evident is that the Senate has put us in a position for a government shutdown," Graves said in a telephone interview after the vote. "Funding the troops is the final step we must take in preparation for the Democrat shutdown."

Whitfield County Democratic Party Chairwoman Judy Dirks disagreed with the idea that Republicans have tried to work with Democrats.

"It seems to me that lately Republicans have said 'no' to whatever Democrats suggest," Dirks said. "I would say to Mr. Graves to please do anything he can to avoid a shutdown and to work for the people in the 15 counties he represents."

Graves said the overwhelming response from his constituents is that they want to see more spending cuts.

More than 12,000 people from Northwest Georgia called in to a teleconferenced town hall meeting he held this week, Graves said. During the meeting, constituents were asked to respond to a question about whether Republicans have done enough to cut government spending.

"The overwhelming response was that not enough spending cuts have been made," Graves said. "They tell us to stand firm in what we are doing."

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