WASHINGTON D.C. – Congressman Dan Benishek, R-Crystal Falls, wants the Senate to join a conference committee so the two sides can work out their differences in order to end the partial federal government shutdown.

“This is so frustrating for me,” Benishek said. “We should be able to find solutions to make this work.”

A conference committee is usually held when the legislation in the House and Senate are different.

Benishek would not say if he would vote on a so-called “clean bill” that would continue to fund the government without addressing the funding or delay of the Affordable Care Act or Obamacare. Instead, he talked about the House effort to reopen parts of the government with individual funding bills. But in the end, he says the House and Senate have to resolve their differences.

“All we are asking is that they sit down at the table and they won’t agree to that?” Benishek asked.

Benishek says he expects to be working through the weekend. He does not know how the standoff might end.