Where I disagree with Senator Cruz--and I made this statement to him publicly and privately--was shutting down the government injured the people of my state. I am elected to represent them.
When we have to fly food from the food banks in Phoenix up to Tusayan--that's a community outside the Grand Canyon--because people on minimum wage were out of food, then I have to say stop! You're wrong, you're crazy.
That's what I have to say. And if I sound angry it's because I have met and talked to constituents of mine who are on minimum wage who had to resort to going to food banks. I'm gonna do everything in my power to make sure that doesn't happen again.
I can tell you this government shutdown was very harmful to my state and its citizens, and it was an outrageous, stupid pointless effort that could not win. I've been in a lot of fights in my life, and I know when I can win and I know when I can't. It would take 67 votes in the United States Senate to repeal Obamacare – we're a long way from there.
I fought against Obamacare before Senator Lee was on the floor of the United States Senate. So I take a back seat to no one.
But when they shutdown the government, and harm the lives of my citizens that I'm supposed to be representing, then I resent it. And I'm gonna fight ‘em every step of the way. And if they do it again, I'll fight ‘em every step of the way then. It's pointless.