U.S. Nears Shutdown as House Votes To Delay Health Law
September 29, 2013
WASHINGTON—The U.S. government moved to within hours of its first shutdown since 1996, as House Republicans redoubled their drive early Sunday to delay the new health care law and Senate Democrats stood firm against changing the law as a condition of funding federal departments. The standoff left little prospect that Congress could reach agreement on terms for funding the government by midnight Monday, when the current fiscal year expires. A shutdown would leave essential services operating but prompt federal agencies to suspend many functions and furlough hundreds of thousands of workers.
On a 231-192 vote, the House early Sunday passed a one-year delay of the health law, often called Obamacare, and attached it to a plan to fund the government through Dec. 15. The legislation now goes to the Senate. It also includes a provision repealing a tax on medical devices intended to help finance the health law, which the House approved on a 248-174 vote. The stare-down between the two chambers intensified as Democratic aides said Mr. Reid had no plans to call the Senate into session before its planned Monday afternoon return. That will be just hours before government funding for many federal functions runs out with the end of the fiscal year. The next step is unclear, as no official business on Capitol Hill is planned for Sunday. There was no sign negotiations were being scheduled among congressional leaders and no lawmakers—from graybeards to backbenchers—said they were optimistic that a shutdown would be averted.
September 29, 2013
WASHINGTON—The U.S. government moved to within hours of its first shutdown since 1996, as House Republicans redoubled their drive early Sunday to delay the new health care law and Senate Democrats stood firm against changing the law as a condition of funding federal departments. The standoff left little prospect that Congress could reach agreement on terms for funding the government by midnight Monday, when the current fiscal year expires. A shutdown would leave essential services operating but prompt federal agencies to suspend many functions and furlough hundreds of thousands of workers.
On a 231-192 vote, the House early Sunday passed a one-year delay of the health law, often called Obamacare, and attached it to a plan to fund the government through Dec. 15. The legislation now goes to the Senate. It also includes a provision repealing a tax on medical devices intended to help finance the health law, which the House approved on a 248-174 vote. The stare-down between the two chambers intensified as Democratic aides said Mr. Reid had no plans to call the Senate into session before its planned Monday afternoon return. That will be just hours before government funding for many federal functions runs out with the end of the fiscal year. The next step is unclear, as no official business on Capitol Hill is planned for Sunday. There was no sign negotiations were being scheduled among congressional leaders and no lawmakers—from graybeards to backbenchers—said they were optimistic that a shutdown would be averted.
It certainly looks like a federal government shutdown will occur on October 1. From my understanding, Congress and US military personnel will continue to be paid.
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