always. >> for the last seven months, your colleague, patty murray, has tried to begin negotiations on no less than 20 separate occasions. each time, republicans refused and blocked. at the same time, republicans went on this pointless campaign of opposition to the affordable care act. again, a complete and utter waste of time and energy. i ask you, sir. what has speaker boehner and the republican party achieved, aside from humiliating and hurting the nation? >> nothing. is the simple answer. this has been a totally unnecessary episode in american history, in congressional history. it's a sad time for congress. it's been a shameful episode, because, as you say, all that was done was to impose pain on ordinary americans throughout the country.