Senate continues to reject House spending plans

As the first day of the government shutdown begins, tensions grow higher in Washington. For the fourth time, senate Democrats have voted against House Republicans’ spending plan, which includes diminishing Obamacare. On Tuesday, the House included in its proposal a call for a compromise, but Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said the package was ultimately extortion, and would force concessions on the President’s health care reforms. Reid added that the Senate does want to reach a decision on the budget with the House, “but not with the government closed.” “We’re not going to relitigate the health care issue,” he said. “It’s time for Republicans to stop obsessing over old battles.”

But the stalemate continues as agencies “execute plans for an orderly shutdown due to the absence of appropriations,” said a note from the Office of Management and Budget. The Senate and House are now trying to combine their two spending plans into a satisfying result, but the GOP’s latest offer, which would have delayed Obamacare for a year and ended government-provided health care for the president, members of Congress and their staff, while also funding the government for 11 weeks, was rejected by Senate.

Despite Republican complaints, large aspects of the new health insurance law went into effect Tuesday. On Obama’s twitter feed, this fact was made clear: “The Affordable Care Act is moving forward. You can’t shut it down,” the post said.