Republicans, put country before self

As I write this, my mother is one of 35 senior citizens from Clear Lake on their way to Washington on a tour to see our nation's capital, experience the monuments and explore the National Archives. Sadly, many of the things they hoped to experience will be closed with the federal government shutdown.

Their experience is in jeopardy because of the actions of a minority of Republicans who want to reverse a law that is settled, upheld in a Constitutional challenge, and going into effect.

My mother and others on the trip are angry and frustrated, as am I, as they see this experience that they have paid for and waited much of their lives for taken away by the cynical actions of a few Republican representatives. Iowa Reps. Tom Latham and Steve King, you are part of the problem. As much as your party is spinning the issue and trying to shift blame, the American people are not fools and this will not work.

It is time for you to put the country's interest above your own agenda.

Gary Lindsay

Cedar Rapids