Schneider Gathers Bipartisan Support Amid Shutdown

With nearly all the news coming out of Washington right now dealing with resolving the government shutdown, Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Deerfield) and Rep. Luke Messer (R-IN) have an found an issue to unite 45 Democrats and 33 Republicans.

Schneider and Messer authored a letter to President Barack Obama urging him to implement sanctions against Iran which Congress has already authorized to insure that country does not acquire nuclear weapons.

This effort began shortly before Congress was unable to agree on a continuing resolution to fund the government beyond Sept. 30 forcing the current shutdown. There may be little first-year representatives can do when deals are being worked out by leadership on the shutdown, but Schneider and Messer found something.

“There are things we can do now,” Schneider said Sept. 24 when asked what he was doing personally to help end the gridlock in Washington. He and Messer wrote the letter. “We hope to get all 85 members of the freshman class to sign it.” There were 78 signatures on the letter when it went to the President Monday.

“History will judge our actions with Iran by one simple question—did we prevent it from acquiring a nuclear weapon,” Schneider said. “While recent diplomatic progress is encouraging, actions are what matter ultimately. The Administration must continue to implement a full spectrum of sanctions, pressuring Iran to give up its nuclear weapons program or face an even graver economic outlook.”

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