President Obama delivered a stern warning about the looming government shutdown at the White House on Monday afternoon, detailing the portions of government that are set to close should House Republicans choose not to fund the government as they try to force anti-Obamacare amendments to the spending bill.
Said Obama: "The idea of putting the American people's hard-earned progress at risk is the height of irresponsibility, and it doesn't have to happen. Let me repeat this. It does not have to happen."
Added the President:
"One faction of one party in one house of Congress in one branch of government doesn't get to shut down the entire government just to refight the results of an election. You don't get to extract a ransom for doing your job, for doing what you're supposed to be doing anyway, or just because there's a law there that you don't like."
Watch Obama's full statement, AFTER THE JUMP…
The shutdown, which would begin at 12:01 am Tuesday, would be the first in 17 years.
