Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) said Tuesday that House Republicans want to strip government funding of PBS because they have a “vendetta against Elmo.”

Boxer made the comments during a floor speech where she made the case for her bill that would ensure that the president and lawmakers are not paid if a government shutdown occurs.

Boxer said that the cost of four hours of the Iraq war would be enough to keep PBS funded — and the popular fire-red children’s character on the air.

Boxer believes that the GOP has more than just a vendetta against Elmo. She added that Republicans hold a “vendetta against healthcare” and a “vendetta against clean energy.”

House Republicans last month passed a bill that would strip government funding for both National Public Radio and PBS.