US News

GOPer’s shutdown foot in mouth

WASHINGTON — No wonder the government shut down — House Republicans get no respect!

With no end in sight to the shutdown, Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R-Ind.) told the Washington Examiner, “We’re not going to be disrespected. We have to get something out of this. And I don’t know what that even is.”

On Thursday, he retreated, saying he “carelessly misrepresented” the budget fight, in which Republicans have demanded changes and delays to ObamaCare as the price for keeping the government open.

President Obama quickly pounced on the bonehead remark, saying Stutzman should be grateful for having a chance to serve the American people.

With no signs of movement on a stalemate that has idled 800,000 workers, House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) has been meeting with Republicans, including about 20 who have said publicly they would favor a “clean” resolution to reopen the government without condition.

Congress faces another deadline on Oct. 17, to lift the nation’s debt ceiling.

“The speaker recognizes that the debt ceiling is probably even more of an issue for the country than the government shutdown,” said Rep. Michael Grimm (R-SI), who told The Post he favors a 10-day resolution to reopen the government as negotiations proceed.

There were reports that Boehner has told colleagues he would be willing to allow a hike in the $16.7 trillion debt ceiling with Democratic votes and a minority of his Republican members.

Boehner spokesman Michael Steel insisted he wasn’t staking out new ground: “Speaker Boehner has always said that the United States will not default on its debt. But if we’re going to raise the debt limit, we need to deal with the drivers of our debt and deficits.”

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Thursday accused Boehner of backing out on a deal earlier this year to pass a clean resolution.