A boy leans on a barricade at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. on Tuesday. The memorial was closed due to the federal government shutdown. More than 80,000 federal workers were furloughed Tuesday. National parks, monuments and museums are closed until further notice.
Photos: Roshan Ghimire/DC Spotlight Newspaper
Republicans and Democrats point the finger at one another as the government slips into a partial shutdown.
President Barack Obama forewarned the public that families and businesses are in danger of negative repercussions if the shutdown continues any longer.
Senator Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif. says, “What we are doing now puts American lives at risk.”
Republican Congress members blame the Democrats for refusing to renegotiate Obama’s health care plan, while Obama deemed Republican’s mission to overturn his health care plan as an “ideological crusade”. Yet, some Republicans have conceded privately in hopes of avoiding negative public backlash.
Republican Senator Saxby Chambliss says, “Democrats have all the leverage and we’ve got none.”
The Republican demand for a year long delay in the law is no more and a provision making contraceptive coverage to women not easily accessible is also no longer a factor. However, Republicans still seek a one-year delay in requiring people to purchase insurance, and are in favor of raising the cost of health care for the president, vice-president and other Congressional members.
As the battle over “Obamacare” ensues, approximately 800,000 federal employees were affected by Tuesday’s shutdown.
Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton has required her staff to report to work, but they will not get paid. Norton commented on her decision stating, “Your work is vital to D.C. residents and to me to carry out my constitutional responsibilities as a member of Congress. We must always be on the job and available to the residents of the District of Columbia. I know that they are grateful for your service. I am particularly grateful to each of you.”
As the Republican and Democrat battle rages on, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va. says, “None of us want to be in a shutdown. And we’re here to say to the Senate Democrats, ‘Come and talk to us.'”
