Republican Congressman Steve King says “good things” have happened after past showdowns between congress and previous presidents and Republicans in congress are “more unified” now that the government shutdown has actually happened. “I think there was something that was intimidating members, an unreasonable fear that they would be blamed if the clock ticked past midnight and so we’re past the witching hour,” King says, “and the roof hasn’t caved in. The sky hasn’t fallen and now I’m seeing Republicans dig back in and show more resolve, not less.”

According to King, there have been 17 government shutdowns since 1976, including the 1995 stalemate between congress and President Clinton that King says eventually yielded a balanced federal budget. “Good things do come from these kind of showdowns,” King says, “and we need to hold the line to that even more good can come from this.” Public opinion will resolve the impasse, according to King, who predicts the resolution will come sooner rather than later.”This isn’t going to go on for a long time,” King says. “The pressure builds every day and so each hour that goes by now brings us closer to a conclusion.”

King made his comments during a telephone conference call with reporters on Tuesday afternoon. Jim Mowrer — the Democrat who hopes to face King in the 2014 eleciton — held a news conference in Sioux City, saying the shutdown was “truly unacceptable.” Mowrer said King was “irresponsible and reckless” for “putting the economy at risk to advance his Tea Party political agenda.

(Radio Iowa)