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NJ's Andrews Says A Gov't Shutdown Would Harm Economic Recovery

WASHINGTON, D.C. (CBS) - A US congressman from South Jersey says a government shutdown, if it happens this weekend (see related story), would be a setback for the country's fragile economic recovery.

"Employers added 250,000 private sector jobs last month across the country," said Rep. Rob Andrews (D-NJ) today in a conference call with reporters.  "The uncertainty and disruption that would be caused by a government shutdown would jeopardize that recovery at exactly the wrong time."

VIEW: What Would Be Open/Closed in Philadelphia (.pdf document)

Andrews says it's not just government workers who would be affected by a shutdown.

"It's bad enough that they're not going to work, but what compounds that problem is that private sector companies and families who rely upon that activity are going to be brought to a halt as well," he said.

Andrews says President Obama has gone three-quarters of the way to meeting Republican demands, agreeing to $75 billion in budget cuts.  Andrews says the disagreement on the budget now revolves around social policy issues, mainly funding for Planned Parenthood, which he says should not even be part of the budget process (another related story).

"The right thing to do would be to settle on the budget, get that done, and then agree that the vote on Planned Parenthood should come another day, on another bill," Andrews said. "And one side will win and the other will lose, and we will go forward."

Andrews says he's pessimistic that Congress will be able to avoid a shutdown.

Reported by Pat Loeb, KYW Newsradio 1060

AP Interactive:  Impact of a Government Shutdown

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