House GOPer: Many Republicans Don’t Live In ‘Political Reality’

Rep. Scott Rigell, R-Va, talks with media before entering a classified members-only briefing on Syria on Capitol Hill, Sunday, Sept. 1, 2013, in Washington. The Obama administration on Sunday confidently predicted co... Rep. Scott Rigell, R-Va, talks with media before entering a classified members-only briefing on Syria on Capitol Hill, Sunday, Sept. 1, 2013, in Washington. The Obama administration on Sunday confidently predicted congressional backing for limited action in Syria. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) MORE LESS
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Rep. Scott Rigell (R-VA) thinks that many Republicans in Congress do not live in a “political reality.”

Rigell, a moderate Republican, opposed shutting down the government over an attempt to defund Obamacare and told The Hill in an interview published Tuesday that forcing a government shutdown “over a deep matter of principle” did not make sense.

Rigell said that Republicans need to accept a raise in taxes during budget talks.

“Revenues have to come up a bit because it’s a conservative principle that one generation pays for the goods or services that it benefits from,” he told The Hill.

While Rigell is willing to raise taxes, he is not optimistic about Congress’ ability to draft a comprehensive budget.

“We can pass a bill with 233 Republicans, thump ourselves on the chest … but nothing gets done,” he said. “Going on without a solution in this Congress is not an option … time is working against us.”

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