SALT LAKE CITY -- Utah's junior Senator, Mike Lee, took criticism from an unexpected direction, as some elected Republicans in his home state were vocal in their anger at Lee's role in the federal government shutdown.
"The thought is, we're going to hold the government hostage, and the only thing we're holding hostage is the American people," Davis County Republican Representative Paul Ray said as he presided over the Interim Health and Human Services Committee on Wednesday morning.
Other Republicans on the Hill joined the chorus, including his co-chair on the committee, State Senator Evan Vickers. In a more muted statement, the St. George Pharmacist described ObamaCare and the shutdown as "potential catastrophes" saying he, "agreed completely" with Ray.
Senator Todd Weiler said if he had to grade Lee on his handling of the shutdown, "I'd give him an 'F.' Why? I think he's hurt the state of Utah and for what? Nothing's accomplished."
Not all GOP legislators agreed. Asked the same question about grading Lee, Representative Curt Oda of Davis County said simply: "'A' plus."
