The shutdown of the federal government “is a bad idea,” 6th District Congressman Derek Kilmer said Friday, adding that he hopes “the president comes to his senses.”

As the House and Senate adjourned after the president’s repeated rejection of bipartisan plans to fund the large part of the federal government set to shutdown at midnight Friday, U.S. Rep. Kilmer (D-WA) made the following statement:

“Shutting down the government is a bad idea. It’s bad for federal workers, it’s bad for taxpayers, and it’s bad for the American people who depend on important government services.

“There’s a bipartisan path to keeping government open. There’s a bipartisan path for dealing with immigration issues too. I’m for border security, but I’m not for holding the government hostage in hopes of spending $25 billion on a 14th century solution to a 21st century challenge.

“The president said he would be ‘proud’ to shut down the government. I couldn’t disagree more. I hope the president comes to his senses and embraces a bipartisan path to keeping the government open,” Kilmer said.