Congressman Paul Cook of Yucca Valley said he, “Voted his conscience” in voting to reopen government and raise the country’s debt ceiling late last night. In an exclusive interview with Z107.7 News from Washington, D.C., Cook said he made the decision to join 87 other Republican Representatives in supporting the bill already approved by the Senate. A hoarse Cook, who had just left the floor of the House after a long and contentious session, said, “I went against the ultra-conservative wing because it was just the right thing to do.” He said his constituency in the Morongo Basin were being increasingly hard-hit from the shutdown, which was affecting businesses that service Joshua National Park visitors and the military readiness of the Twentynine Palms Combat Center. Cook said that in spite of intense pressure, “I could not vote to continue to shut down government.” A press release from the National Parks Conservation Association said all of the nation’s parks, including Joshua Tree National Park, will reopen today. There has been no confirmation from local park representatives.
