Angus King

I hate shutdowns.

I'm one of the people that helped negotiate the solution to the last, the end of the last shutdown.

But I can't vote for a bill that includes ICE funding under these circumstances.

Let's have an honest negotiation, put some guardrails on what's going on, some accountability, and that would solve this problem.

We don't have to have a shutdown.

We're either going to be successful and get an extension of the tax credits, probably with some amendments that are negotiated,

Or the Republicans will say no, and then they're on record, clearly, as being opposed to fixing this problem.

We're either going to be successful and get an extension of the tax credits, probably with some amendments that are negotiated.

Or the Republicans will say no, and then they're on record, clearly, as being opposed to fixing this problem.

Well, Joe, you have to go back to what the strategy was at the beginning of the shutdown.

There were two goals, both of which I support.

One was standing up to Donald Trump.

The other was getting some resolution on the ACA premium tax credit issue.

The problem was the shutdown wasn't accomplishing either goals, and there was practically, well, there was zero likelihood that it was going to.

In terms of standing up to Donald Trump, the shutdown actually gave him more power, Exhibit A being what he's done with SNAP and SNAP benefits across the country.

Oh, by the way, Joe, you're going to love this.

Guess who's getting paid during the shutdown?

not the park rangers or air traffic controllers, the ICE agents.

Under special law, under that big, awful bill that they passed last summer, the ICE agents are being paid.

Nobody else is.