Shut down shutdowners

In a massive temper tantrum, Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives shut down our government for 16 days last October. Idaho Rep. Raul Labrador was one of them.

On the 16th day of the shutdown, the U.S. Senate voted overwhelmingly to reopen the government and raise the debt ceiling. Only 18 senators opposed it, among them Idaho’s Jim Risch.

Idahoans elected these two legislators to reduce government spending.

So what did the shutdown cost? A few million, maybe? Not even close. According to Standard and Poor’s, this Republican-made shutdown took a $24 billion chunk out of the U.S. economy. $24 billion! And in the end, what did the Republicans gain? Very little.

Last month, Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell threatened that if Republicans win the Senate, there will likely be other shutdowns. Say hello to another disastrous multi-billion-dollar stunt.

The United States is a world power in a world that is growing more dangerous by the minute. This is hardly the time for Republican legislators to be playing political games that weaken the government and its ability to act. Take it to the polls: Retire Labrador and Risch. They’ve done enough.

Dody Dozier

Moscow