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CNBC host Joe Kernen pressed Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., on Wednesday for repeatedly voting to continue the government shutdown .

On "Squawk Box," Kernen frequently called out the Democratic Party for taking part in "extortion" by demanding several additional political concessions in exchange for reopening the government. Welch agreed that shutdowns were "terrible" but defended his vote as a way to address concerns over Obamacare subsidies set to expire without congressional actions.

"You’re always reasonable when you come on," Kernen responded. "And I’ve said that, and you’re almost conceding that you should not be shutting down the government, that the Democrats should not be doing that."

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