Hoosier Senators Talk Potential Shutdown

Republican Sen. Dan Coats says he’ll oppose short-term government funding measures until Congress addresses what he sees as a coming fiscal crisis created by President Obama.  But Coats’ Democratic counterpart Sen. Joe Donnelly says shutting down the government would threaten an improving economy.

Coats says he was elected in 2010 to focus on the country’s debt and deficit problems. He blames President Barack Obama’s executive overreach and failure to find bipartisan solutions for exacerbating the issue.  He says with GOP majorities in both houses, he wants what he calls “meaningful action” or he won’t support any funding deals. 

Donnelly says Hoosiers want Congress to help the economy – and at the very least not make it worse. He says it's "embarrassing" some in Congress are willing to bring the country to the brink of a government shut down, rather than work to solve the problems.

Donnelly says Congress needs to work together to keep the government open.