October 2, 2025 • 8 mins
Fifth District Congressman Bob Latta joined Todd to discuss the ongoing Government Shutdown.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
In Washington, d C. They have shut them down. Well,
at least the Senate did. On the House side, they
passed a continuing resolution actually a while ago now. But
of course, so the Senate has been unable to get
anything done because of their filibuster. Here to talk about
the shutdown with US is a fourth District Congressman Bob
(00:23):
Latti is with US congressman, good morning.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Hey, how are you today?
Speaker 1 (00:27):
I'm good at fifth District. I should say, get that right, Bob,
when you think about the work you guys did in
the House, I know it's different procedures and stuff, but
it maybe makes it more frustrating that you guys passed
a CR a couple of weeks ago and then the
Senate's been unable to do anything with it.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Huh well, debfinlutely right. We passed the legislation on September
of the nineteenth. You know, it's very very tight margins
now it's two hundred nineteen Republic needs to two and
thirteen Democrats. But we got we got to work done.
And I think people I need to know what this,
what a continuing resolution is. We were saying that look
(01:07):
we're going to they keep funding the government through November
twenty first, so that we could get all of our
twelve spending bills completed and then we don't do these
crazy end of the year Christmas trees they call omnibusiness
and things like that. So, uh, you know, we got
to work done. Went over to the Senate. Unfortunately, the
(01:28):
Democrats balked, and as you mentioned, they they've got to
get the sixty votes and Senate to move it. So
they shut they shut down the government and what they
buy they want one point five They said, well, we'll
negotiate with you. Gives one point five trillion dollars in
a short term spending bill, which is unbelievable, unheard of.
(01:51):
And what they but they'd end up doing is though
the work that we did make sure there's fifty billion
dollars out there to help our rural hospitals, to make
sure that we clean up to the waste, draw and
abuse of medicaids, so Medicaid is going to those who
really needed, the pregnant women, the elderly, the disabled, the children.
(02:12):
And also they want to cut back on the making
sure that Americans are going to pay more in taxes
next year because you know, we passed when we passed
our bill earlier this year h that the presidents signed.
We're making sure that we don't see Americans get hit
with a big tax bill next year. So it's up
(02:34):
to the set of Democrats right now. But you know
they're they're they're under pressure from their their liberal base
to shut it down. And but now the pressure is
on them, it's like, Okay, what are are you going
to do? Because it's much easier to shut something down
than they reopen it.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
We're talking with the fifth District Congressman Bob Lada. The
shutdown is on. Of course, the House passed their version
of a continuing resolution, so they've just kind of been
sitting back waiting. And I guess the other thing that's
going on, Bob, is this really just distracts from other
things that you or other people may have been working on,
(03:14):
whether it's the House or the Senate, really can't get
anything helpful done, or make any debates or make any progress. Right.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
Well, it's difficult in that you know a lot of
the government departments and agencies are shut down today. Now,
you know, if you're getting so security checks, Medicare, if
you're looking at VA benefits and things like that those
things be keep flowing. However that you know offices will
be closing. And the other problem is that in the
(03:44):
middle of this month now our military is not going
to get paid. So you know, we have a lot
of people out there, especially when you think about all
those men and women that are out there defending us
twenty four hours a day, that the idea of them
not getting paid is support their families not a very
good thing. So you know, again the Democrats are going
(04:04):
to have to make a decision on what you're going
to do here, but just because they pretty much come
down to we don't like Donald Trump, so you know
they won't admit all that, but it prey comes down
to that that they want to shut down the government.
But as I mentioned, when you shut the government down,
it's very tough to get it reopened. And people also
(04:26):
realize they need to know this is that we're not
saving any money. It actually costs more money in a shutdown.
And the second part of it is we pay everybody
back in the end, So if you can get your paycheck,
you're going to get it later, but they might need
it today. And that's why I've already sent a letter
in saying I want my pay with help, because I
(04:47):
don't think it's right that members of Congress would be
getting paid when our military and all these other people
are getting paid.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
No doubt, we're talking with Congressman Bob Lada. Bob, I
saw a proposal from one of the Republican senators and
I don't remember which one, but the idea to make
it law that every time this happens, that automatically we
get the CR at the last budget levels instead of
having to go through this any chance that could become law.
(05:15):
Can you guys work that out?
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Well, Okay, the way things are right now is consentious.
Things are I'm going to say probably not, because in
the back of some of these mind is always going
to be, well, maybe we can get some leverage or
we shut the government down. And so you're going to
have folks out there with that kind of position saying no,
we'll just shut it down. But again, they're usually not
(05:39):
a very good proposition out there because it costs more
money than in the end. And plus, you know, my office,
we're going to keep everybody. I said everybody's essential, So
my district office and DC office staff, everybody's going to
come into work, because we want to keep working on
not just our legislative work that we have to do,
(05:59):
and I sure the Energy Subcommittee and the Energy and
Commerce Committee, which means, you know, we got to make
sure we have the energy out there to produce for
our manufacturers and our homeowners and our senior citizens, our
farmers and everyone else. But at the same time, we
got to keep working on our constituent matters. But the
problem runs into a lot of these departments and agencies
(06:20):
are going to be shut down, and so they're going
to fall behind being the departments and agencies getting the
work done, because if it is to say you're shut
down for a week or two weeks, it means they're
two weeks behind instead of being current where we need
to be. And I shouldn't really choose to say current
because there are a lot of them already working from
a backlog from COVID mom.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
Final thought, the President has thrown out the idea that
the shutdown would allow him to the latitude to maybe
do a doze two point zero here and do a
reduction in force without a lot of red tape here.
Do you think the President's going to go through with
that idea? And should he Well.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
You know, and that's that's a very good point, because first,
we have a lot of departments and agencies that have
what they call reauthorized. I chair again on the Energy
and CONNGRESCE Committee. We have all teletcommunications underneath of us,
and I chaired that subcommittee in the last Congress. And
we you know, it's been like almost thirty three, thirty
(07:22):
four years since the National Telecommunication and Information Department had
been reauthorized. And this is what they do, is they
control all spectrum for the federal government, all federal spectrum
out there the federal government uses, which is important because
again we need more spectrum out there and more broadband
(07:46):
for people not you know, not less. So what they're
saying is is that for these agencies and departments that
have not been reauthorized, that well, we don't just furlough
those employees. We should look at you know, just saying
you're just don't bother coming back anymore anyway. So that
(08:06):
I know, I think that's something that the administration is
looking at. And I'm sure that when Chuck Schumer and
the King Jeffries went to the White House the other
day with this one point five trillion dollar proposal, that might.
I've been discussed saying, you know what, we just might
have to cut some people out. So I'm not sure
if the administration is going to go forward with it,
(08:27):
but you know, if you're looking at areas that haven't
been reauthorized, it could they might use it.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
That's been District Congressman Bob Lada joining us here on
the program. Bob, we appreciate you taking time for us.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
Well, thank you very much. I have a great day.
In Washington, d C. They have shut them down. Well,
at least the Senate did. On the House side, they
passed a continuing resolution actually a while ago now. But
of course, so the Senate has been unable to get
anything done because of their filibuster. Here to talk about
the shutdown with US is a fourth District Congressman Bob
(00:23):
Latti is with US congressman, good morning.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Hey, how are you today?
Speaker 1 (00:27):
I'm good at fifth District. I should say, get that right, Bob,
when you think about the work you guys did in
the House, I know it's different procedures and stuff, but
it maybe makes it more frustrating that you guys passed
a CR a couple of weeks ago and then the
Senate's been unable to do anything with it.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Huh well, debfinlutely right. We passed the legislation on September
of the nineteenth. You know, it's very very tight margins
now it's two hundred nineteen Republic needs to two and
thirteen Democrats. But we got we got to work done.
And I think people I need to know what this,
what a continuing resolution is. We were saying that look
(01:07):
we're going to they keep funding the government through November
twenty first, so that we could get all of our
twelve spending bills completed and then we don't do these
crazy end of the year Christmas trees they call omnibusiness
and things like that. So, uh, you know, we got
to work done. Went over to the Senate. Unfortunately, the
(01:28):
Democrats balked, and as you mentioned, they they've got to
get the sixty votes and Senate to move it. So
they shut they shut down the government and what they
buy they want one point five They said, well, we'll
negotiate with you. Gives one point five trillion dollars in
a short term spending bill, which is unbelievable, unheard of.
(01:51):
And what they but they'd end up doing is though
the work that we did make sure there's fifty billion
dollars out there to help our rural hospitals, to make
sure that we clean up to the waste, draw and
abuse of medicaids, so Medicaid is going to those who
really needed, the pregnant women, the elderly, the disabled, the children.
(02:12):
And also they want to cut back on the making
sure that Americans are going to pay more in taxes
next year because you know, we passed when we passed
our bill earlier this year h that the presidents signed.
We're making sure that we don't see Americans get hit
with a big tax bill next year. So it's up
(02:34):
to the set of Democrats right now. But you know
they're they're they're under pressure from their their liberal base
to shut it down. And but now the pressure is
on them, it's like, Okay, what are are you going
to do? Because it's much easier to shut something down
than they reopen it.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
We're talking with the fifth District Congressman Bob Lada. The
shutdown is on. Of course, the House passed their version
of a continuing resolution, so they've just kind of been
sitting back waiting. And I guess the other thing that's
going on, Bob, is this really just distracts from other
things that you or other people may have been working on,
(03:14):
whether it's the House or the Senate, really can't get
anything helpful done, or make any debates or make any progress. Right.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
Well, it's difficult in that you know a lot of
the government departments and agencies are shut down today. Now,
you know, if you're getting so security checks, Medicare, if
you're looking at VA benefits and things like that those
things be keep flowing. However that you know offices will
be closing. And the other problem is that in the
(03:44):
middle of this month now our military is not going
to get paid. So you know, we have a lot
of people out there, especially when you think about all
those men and women that are out there defending us
twenty four hours a day, that the idea of them
not getting paid is support their families not a very
good thing. So you know, again the Democrats are going
(04:04):
to have to make a decision on what you're going
to do here, but just because they pretty much come
down to we don't like Donald Trump, so you know
they won't admit all that, but it prey comes down
to that that they want to shut down the government.
But as I mentioned, when you shut the government down,
it's very tough to get it reopened. And people also
(04:26):
realize they need to know this is that we're not
saving any money. It actually costs more money in a shutdown.
And the second part of it is we pay everybody
back in the end, So if you can get your paycheck,
you're going to get it later, but they might need
it today. And that's why I've already sent a letter
in saying I want my pay with help, because I
(04:47):
don't think it's right that members of Congress would be
getting paid when our military and all these other people
are getting paid.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
No doubt, we're talking with Congressman Bob Lada. Bob, I
saw a proposal from one of the Republican senators and
I don't remember which one, but the idea to make
it law that every time this happens, that automatically we
get the CR at the last budget levels instead of
having to go through this any chance that could become law.
(05:15):
Can you guys work that out?
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Well, Okay, the way things are right now is consentious.
Things are I'm going to say probably not, because in
the back of some of these mind is always going
to be, well, maybe we can get some leverage or
we shut the government down. And so you're going to
have folks out there with that kind of position saying no,
we'll just shut it down. But again, they're usually not
(05:39):
a very good proposition out there because it costs more
money than in the end. And plus, you know, my office,
we're going to keep everybody. I said everybody's essential, So
my district office and DC office staff, everybody's going to
come into work, because we want to keep working on
not just our legislative work that we have to do,
(05:59):
and I sure the Energy Subcommittee and the Energy and
Commerce Committee, which means, you know, we got to make
sure we have the energy out there to produce for
our manufacturers and our homeowners and our senior citizens, our
farmers and everyone else. But at the same time, we
got to keep working on our constituent matters. But the
problem runs into a lot of these departments and agencies
(06:20):
are going to be shut down, and so they're going
to fall behind being the departments and agencies getting the
work done, because if it is to say you're shut
down for a week or two weeks, it means they're
two weeks behind instead of being current where we need
to be. And I shouldn't really choose to say current
because there are a lot of them already working from
a backlog from COVID mom.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
Final thought, the President has thrown out the idea that
the shutdown would allow him to the latitude to maybe
do a doze two point zero here and do a
reduction in force without a lot of red tape here.
Do you think the President's going to go through with
that idea? And should he Well.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
You know, and that's that's a very good point, because first,
we have a lot of departments and agencies that have
what they call reauthorized. I chair again on the Energy
and CONNGRESCE Committee. We have all teletcommunications underneath of us,
and I chaired that subcommittee in the last Congress. And
we you know, it's been like almost thirty three, thirty
(07:22):
four years since the National Telecommunication and Information Department had
been reauthorized. And this is what they do, is they
control all spectrum for the federal government, all federal spectrum
out there the federal government uses, which is important because
again we need more spectrum out there and more broadband
(07:46):
for people not you know, not less. So what they're
saying is is that for these agencies and departments that
have not been reauthorized, that well, we don't just furlough
those employees. We should look at you know, just saying
you're just don't bother coming back anymore anyway. So that
(08:06):
I know, I think that's something that the administration is
looking at. And I'm sure that when Chuck Schumer and
the King Jeffries went to the White House the other
day with this one point five trillion dollar proposal, that might.
I've been discussed saying, you know what, we just might
have to cut some people out. So I'm not sure
if the administration is going to go forward with it,
(08:27):
but you know, if you're looking at areas that haven't
been reauthorized, it could they might use it.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
That's been District Congressman Bob Lada joining us here on
the program. Bob, we appreciate you taking time for us.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
Well, thank you very much. I have a great day.
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