Anyone who would claim that any of the recent bills sent to the Senate by the House have any other purpose than to destroy the Affordable Care Act (also called Obamacare) is guilty brazen deceitfulness.

Beginning with the 41 attempts to repeal the act to the current bills to fund all government functions except Obamacare, House Republicans have had the same goal in mind. The pious expressions of concern for those whose benefits are delayed by the shutdown should engender nothing but shame on the part of those who engage in this blatant hypocrisy.

One can only hope that enough House Republicans will abandon this unholy enterprise and support a return to a responsible governing process.

Bob Dodge

Augusta