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Michigan Lawmakers Weigh In On Gov't Shutdown

SOUTHFIELD (WWJ) - On the third day of the partial shutdown of the federal government, Michigan Congressman Mike Rogers says House Republicans should reconsider linking the nation's debt ceiling with their desire to delay rollout of the Affordable Care Act.

"I want a victory here. I want ObamaCare stopped like anybody, but maybe there's a smarter way to get there. I just don't think that this is the smartest, best way for us to get what we want to have done," says Rogers.

Rogers comments coming on the syndicated Mike Huckabee program. And, Michigan Democratic Congressman Dan Kildee says, on this issue, there is no compromise.

"We can never, ever have a situation where one faction within the Congress can use the threat of a shutdown to extract a policy decision," says Kildee.

The U.S. Treasury Department has issued a warning that the economy could head into a downturn if Congress fails to raise the federal borrowing limit and the country defaults on its debt obligations.

Says Rogers, "I still ask, at the end of the day what are we trying to accomplish and what is our goal here and how long are we gonna' go down this path without accomplishing what we want to accomplish?"

Hundreds of thousands of federal workers have been furloughed by the partial government shutdown.

"I just don't believe it's right for us to gamble with other people's money. That's not what makes me a Republican for sure," says Rogers (R-MI 8th District).

And to his fellow party members, Rogers adds, "Pick your fights where you can win. I worry that this is not the right place."

On the other side of the political isle, Congressman Kildee (D-MI 5th District) believes others within the GOP feel as Rogers does.

"I think a majority of the Republicans believe the same thing. There are only a handful, like Mike, who just acknowledges, 'Look, this is a fight that we took to the floor of the House and we've lost and it's time to move on,'" says Kildee.

Kildee says there is a growing chorus of Republicans with these sentiments.

"Not only a growing chorus, there are growing members of the chorus that are willing to sing out. I know that the president will not back down on this," says Kildee.

Congressman Kildee believes President Obama holds the higher ground in this stalemate and will not compromise under the threat of a shutdown.

Says Kildee, "The only resolution that I see is happening one member at a time. Responsible members of the Republican conference that are saying, 'Look, enough is enough. We fought this fight, we lost, it's time to move on and we'll live to fight another day.'"

However, Congressman Rogers has another way of viewing things.

"How do we win this fight? I think we do it by continuing to point out the real problems with ObamaCare," says Rogers.

But the GOP lawmaker warns, "If this goes up to the debt limit we're going to have a whole new series of problems."

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