Shutdown Debate: Does the GOP get short term pain, long term benefits? (VIDEO)

Republicans play their hand on shutdown day

TLR Editor Austin Petersen appeared on Sun News Network today to discuss the budget negotiations in Washington D.C. We discussed what’s at stake in the talks over raising the debt ceiling, and just what Republicans might gain from holding strong against Obamacare. At the moment Republicans are signaling that they might be willing to fund the government if the President were to abolish a medical device tax in the Affordable Care Act. That would give them 6 months of funding for the government and a temporary increase in the debt ceiling.

READ: 10 Democrats who shut down the government

Critics of House Republicans who are blaming them for the shutdown warn that GOP intransigence in 1995 and 96 caused Bill Clinton to be re-elected. That may be true, but as Newt Gingrich pointed out, the last time there was a shutdown the GOP managed to win four consecutive balanced budgets, welfare reform and the first tax cut in 16 year.

The video interview discussing the ongoing budget talks is below.

(Apologies for the poor audio)