Arkansas delegation reacts to U.S. budget vote

From left, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., the Democratic Policy Committee chairman, and Budget Committee Chair Patty Murray, D-Wash., speak privately before attending a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2013. The Democratic leaders repeated their resolve to not touch the Affordable Care Act if House Republicans make rescinding "Obamacare" a part of a continuing resolution to fund the government.
From left, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., the Democratic Policy Committee chairman, and Budget Committee Chair Patty Murray, D-Wash., speak privately before attending a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2013. The Democratic leaders repeated their resolve to not touch the Affordable Care Act if House Republicans make rescinding "Obamacare" a part of a continuing resolution to fund the government.

Republican members of the Arkansas congressional delegation are praising a U.S. House vote to keep government operations funded while crippling President Barack Obama's health-care law.

However, leaders in the Democratically controlled Senate say the resolution approved Friday won't clear the upper chamber, and Obama has pledged a veto if it somehow does.

U.S. Rep. Tim Griffin says the Senate should approve the funding measure to keep the government running and to block the Affordable Care Act, which he called "a train wreck."

The lone Democrat in the delegation, Sen. Mark. Pryor, called the House vote "irresponsible" and said it would hurt an economy that is starting to recover. Pryor is being challenged by Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Cotton, who says Arkansans support blocking the health care overhaul.

Read more in Saturday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

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