* The Hill…

A liberal group is launching ads targeting vulnerable Republicans in 10 top districts over the shutdown.

The ads, from Americans United for Change, hit the lawmakers for siding with “Tea Party Republicans” to shut down the government and urge viewers to call their congressman and tell him to end the shutdown. […]

Brad Woodhouse, Americans United for Change’s president, said in a statement that the House GOP’s refusal to pass a clean continuing resolution to fund the government was “the act of extortionist Tea Party Republicans, plain and simple.”

* I just don’t think this ad is all that memorable or effective. Watch it…

* But at least those ads are on TV. The Republicans are staying web-based. From a press release…

The National Republican Congressional Committee released a new web video today that calls on Bill Enyart to stop voting against crucial bipartisan legislation that funds critical government services throughout the duration of President Obama’s shutdown. Since the shutdown went into effect, Enyart has voted against funding for our nation’s veterans, low-income women and children, the FDA and the National Institutes of Health.

The White House has been rooting for the shutdown, telling reporters that they are “winning” as Americans suffer. While President Obama and National Democrats play political games, House Republicans have passed these important funding bills without Enyart’s support.

“Bill Enyart has turned his back on women, children, and our nation’s veterans throughout President Obama’s shutdown, and it’s time for him and his liberal allies to stop the partisan games,” said NRCC Communications Director Andrea Bozek. “The House has passed bipartisan bills to help the American people while the shutdown continues, and Enyart has continued to turn a blind eye to those in need of funding.”

* The web video is overly wordy and features a comment by Speaker Boehner, which undoubtedly reduces its effectiveness. Watch…

* More from the NRCC…

“Congressman Bill Enyart is in a real trouble. His votes against funding veterans’ programs and critical funding for women and children are going to haunt him for the next 13 months. Southern Illinois families deserve to know he’s turned his back on them out of loyalty to Nancy Pelosi.” – NRCC Spokeswoman Danielle Varallo

* They tried exactly the same thing last year, painting Democrats as being against liberal causes. It didn’t work. This, however, might resonate because it plays into the overwhelming public disapproval of Congress…

U.S. Rep. Bill Foster (D-Ill.) is heading up an effort to shutdown a congressional gym and spa used by U.S. House members during the government shutdown.

Foster is calling it the Shutdown Prioritization Act or SPA, which he says would force U.S. House Speaker John Boehner to remove the exclusive gym and spa from the list of essential congressional services.

“Members of Congress should not enjoy access to their exclusive gym and spa while Capitol police go without pay, children are being turned away from Head Start and veterans are left wondering if their benefits will come in the mail on November 1st,” Foster said in a statement.

A 2011 Slate article described the exclusive gym, saying it included “standard cardio and weight machines, plus a swimming pool, basketball courts, and paddleball courts. There’s also a sauna and a steam room. Its three televisions are typically set to some combination of Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, and ESPN.” […]

“Not only are Members of Congress still able to access the taxpayer-funded gym, sauna and steam room while tens of thousands of federal employees remain furloughed, janitorial staff are still required to clean and maintain the gym and restock it with towels and other “essential” items,” Foster said.

* Related…

* Democrat Durbin praises Republican Kirk for “stepping up,” backing raising debt limit

* Quinn sends Boehner letter amid threat of more state layoffs

* Shutdown disrupts Head Start programs, threatens to force layoffs