October 2, 2013
WASHINGTON: The political impasse in Congress showed no signs of easing, leaving federal government functions — from informational websites, to national parks, to processing veterans' claims — in limbo from coast to coast. Lawmakers in both parties ominously suggested the partial shutdown might last for weeks.
October 2, 2013
WASHINGTON: The political impasse in Congress showed no signs of easing, leaving federal government functions — from informational websites, to national parks, to processing veterans' claims — in limbo from coast to coast. Lawmakers in both parties ominously suggested the partial shutdown might last for weeks.
A funding cutoff for much of the government began on Tuesday as a Republican effort to kill or delay the nation's healthcare law stalled action on a short-term, traditionally routine spending bill. Republicans pivoted to a strategy to try to reopen the government piecemeal but were unable to immediately advance the idea in the House of Representatives.
National parks like Yellowstone and Alcatraz Island were shuttered, government websites went dark and hundreds of thousands of nonessential workers reported for a half-day to fill out time cards, hand in their government cellphones and laptops, and change voicemail messages to gird for a deepening shutdown.
About 800,000 employees — about a third of the federal workforce — are being forced off the job in the first government shutdown in 17 years, suspending most non-essential federal programs and services. People classified as essential employees — such as air traffic controllers, border patrol agents and most food inspectors — will continue to work.
Even as many government agencies closed their doors, health insurance exchanges that are at the core of President Barack Obama's healthcare law were up and running, taking applications for coverage that would start January 1.
"Shutting down our government doesn't accomplish their stated goal," Obama said of his Republican opponents at a Rose Garden event hailing implementation of the law. "The Affordable Care Act is a law that passed the House; it passed the Senate. The Supreme Court ruled it constitutional. It was a central issue in last year's election. It is settled, and it is here to stay. And because of its funding sources, it's not impacted by a government shutdown."
Obama accused Republicans of causing the shutdown as part of a non-stop "ideological crusade" to wipe out his signature healthcare law.
Republican leaders faulted the Democratic-led Senate for killing a request from the Republican-controlled House request to open official negotiations on the temporary spending bill. Senate Democrats led by majority leader Harry Reid of Nevada insist that Republicans give in and pass their simple, straightforward temporary funding bill, known as a continuing resolution.
"None of us want to be in a shutdown. And we're here to say to the Senate Democrats, 'Come and talk to us'," House majority leader Eric Cantor said as Republican lawmakers designated to negotiate the shutdown legislation met among themselves before cameras and reporters. "At each and every turn, the Senate Democrats refused to even discuss these proposals."
Late on Tuesday, House Republicans sought the passage of legislation aimed at reopening small slices of the government. The bills covered the national parks, the veterans' affairs department and city services in Washington DC, such as garbage collection funded with local tax revenues.
The move presented Democrats with politically challenging votes but they rejected the idea, saying it was unfair to pick winners and losers as federal employees worked without a guarantee of getting paid and the effects of the partial shutdown rippled through the country and the economy. The White House promised a veto.
Since the measures were brought before the House under expedited procedures requiring a two-thirds majority to pass, House Democrats scuttled them, despite an impassioned plea by Democratic DC delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, who recalled that in the last shutdown 17 years ago she prevailed on House Speaker Newt Gingrich to win an exemption to keep the DC government running.
But other Democrats said Republicans shouldn't be permitted to choose which agencies should open and which remain shut.
"This piecemeal approach will only prolong a shutdown," Democratic Representative Tammy Duckworth, said.
Republicans said there could be more votes on Wednesday, perhaps to allow the National Institutes of Health to continue pediatric cancer research. The NIH's famed hospital of last resort wasn't admitting new patients because of the shutdown. Dr Francis Collins, agency director, estimated that each week the shutdown lasts would force the facility to turn away about 200 patients, 30 of them children, who want to enroll in studies of experimental treatments. Patients already at the hospital are permitted to stay.
Republicans also said the House may vote anew on the three measures that failed Tuesday, this time under normal rules requiring a simple majority to pass.
Republicans hoped such votes would create pressure on Democrats to drop their insistence that they won't negotiate on the spending bill or an even more important subsequent measure, required in a couple of weeks or so, to increase the government's borrowing limit. The US risks a market-rattling, first-ever default on its obligations if Congress fails to raise that limit.
There were suggestions from leaders in both parties that the shutdown could last for weeks and grow to encompass the measure to increase the debt limit.
Stock markets around the world reacted resiliently, with analysts saying significant damage to the US economy was unlikely unless the shutdown lasted more than a few days. US stocks edged higher on Tuesday, and Asian stocks did the same on Wednesday.
The stalemate pits Democrats against a core of conservative small-government activists who have mounted a campaign to seize the must-do budget measure in an effort to dismantle the 2010 health care reform, which is intended to provide coverage for the millions of Americans now uninsured. Republicans passionately oppose the plan they have dubbed Obamacare as wasteful and restricting freedom by requiring most Americans to have health insurance.
While Republican leaders seemed determined to press on, some Republicans conceded they might bear the brunt of any public anger over the shutdown — and seemed resigned to an eventual surrender in their latest bruising struggle with Obama.
Democrats have "all the leverage and we've got none," Senator Saxby Chambliss of Georgia said.
Representative Scott Rigell of Virginia said it was time to pass legislation reopening the government without any health care impediments.
"The shutdown is hurting my district — including the military and the hardworking men and women who have been furloughed due to the defence sequester,'' he said.
But that was far from the majority view among House Republicans, where hardcore conservative tea party-aligned lawmakers prevailed more than a week ago on a reluctant leadership to link federal funding legislation to the healthcare law. In fact, some conservatives fretted the Republicans had already given in too much.
Individual Republican House members may face a greater risk by embracing a compromise. Many represent heavily partisan congressional districts, and voters in Republican primaries have ousted lawmakers they see as too moderate.
The White House was operating with a skeletal staff on Tuesday.
The state department continued processing passports and visas because that service is financed through fees. Embassies and consulates overseas were also open.
Courtesy: AP
