U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-3) today issued the following statement after the Senate rejected the fourth bipartisan House proposal to keep the government operating and even rejected negotiating with the House to resolve the current impasse:

“It is a national tragedy that the U.S. Senate has for the fourth time decided that purely partisan politics comes before the needs of the American people by repeatedly rejecting calls by the House to negotiate a way to get the government up and running. Quite frankly, it is disgraceful that the Senate would chose to arrogantly reject a fourth bi-partisan House of Representatives’ continuing resolution to keep the government open, delaying the individual mandate in Obamacare for one year and eliminating subsidized health benefits for members of Congress and their staff.  The Senate’s refusal to compromise or even negotiate on this disastrous law is even more appalling given that the president himself has provided numerous groups, organizations, businesses and elected officials with delays and exemptions from Obamacare.  As a result of the Senate’s intransigence, I have no choice but to furlough much of my staff and shutter my district offices until this situation is resolved. We sincerely regret any inconvenience this will cause the hard-working folks of the Third District who deserve prompt and thorough constituent service from our office.”