Columbia News

Rep. Mark Alford, U.S. Congressman representing Missouri’s 4th district since 2023, posted a series of statements on September 30, 2025, regarding the ongoing government funding negotiations and the potential for a government shutdown.

In his first post at 20:43 UTC, Alford contrasted the actions of political parties in Congress, stating "One side is governing. The other is playing partisan games with your paycheck."

Later that evening at 21:09 UTC, Alford addressed the specifics of a continuing resolution and criticized Democratic lawmakers: " It’s a clean continuing resolution — no add-ons, no gimmicks. Democrats are shutting down the government to strip away $50 billion from rural hospitals, put illegal immigrants back on Medicaid, and jeopardize paychecks for 30,000 federal workers in Kansas City. @HouseGOP is"

At 22:01 UTC on the same day, Alford commented on legislative procedures in the Senate and bipartisan cooperation: "It takes 60 votes in the Senate to move legislation forward — not just a simple majority. The House has done its job. Bipartisan support is the roadblock, because Democrats would rather play political games than put America first."

Alford's remarks come amid heightened tensions in Congress over budget negotiations as lawmakers face deadlines to avert a federal government shutdown. As noted by congressional procedure, most significant legislation in the U.S. Senate requires a supermajority of 60 votes to advance.

Mark Alford succeeded Vicky Hartzler as representative for Missouri’s 4th district in 2023. He was born in Baytown, Texas in 1963 and currently resides in Lake Winnebago. Alford holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin (1988).