The Democrats' strategy to shut down the government over the funding of Obamacare is "crazy" and "not defensible," Sen. Mike Lee said Monday.
"The position taken by the Democrats is not defensible. What they're saying is, 'Unless you fund everything in government, including Obamacare, we will not let you fund anything.' That's crazy," the Utah Republican told Fox News.
"The American people know it's crazy. And it's not going to work," he said.
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Protecting the American people from the harmful effects of Obamacare is key to Republicans' effort to defund the healthcare law, Lee said. Congress continues to debate funding the federal government through a continuing resolution passed by the House and rejected by the Senate.
"I keep asking the questions, 'How many more people are going to have to lose their jobs? How many more people are going to have to have their hours cut, or their wages slashed, or lose access to their health insurance before Congress acts to protect the American people from the harmful effects of Obamacare?'"
While admitting to "a few dissenters" within the Republican party, Lee said the movement to stand against funding Obamacare is growing.
"Obviously, we have a few dissenters," Lee said. "I think the most important thing is, the American people are with us. And they are moving [in] our direction to an increasing degree, because they can see that this law is going to harm a lot of people."
Lee maintained it is not necessary to withhold funding from the entire government in order to debate implementation of Obamacare.
"We can fund 98 percent of government by funding those things that have nothing to do with the implementation of Obamacare. We can do it right now. We can do it in a matter of hours," Lee said.
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