By Ryan Long
With the shutdown of the federal government now in its third day, tension continues to build between Democrats and Republicans
in the House and Senate.
In order to continue government operations, Congress had to pass a spending bill before the end of the fiscal year on September 30. This provides funding for everything from National Parks to White House staff member salaries. In the District of Columbia, even basic services like trash pickup have come to a halt. Without an agreement, the government isn’t authorized to spend any money, except on services deemed absolutely necessary, including social security, military, and air traffic control.
The conflict arising from this round of spending negotiations is over the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, dubbed “Obamacare.” This is the new healthcare law that requires all Americans to be provided access to health insurance, and it began open enrollment on October 1. Though it isn’t tied directly to government spending, Republicans in Congress are demanding that the law be defunded before any further action can take place.
Republicans are concerned that Obamacare will hurt small business by forcing them to adhere to strict regulations and will harm Americans by increasing taxes to fund it. Democrats argue that the benefits outweigh the burdens, providing health care options to those who couldn’t previously afford it and to individuals with pre-existing medical conditions.
The last time a shutdown occurred, under similarly partisan circumstances, the government suspended operation twice between November 1995 and January 1996. Initially, a temporary spending bill agreement was released and operation resumed. But when a more permanent solution wasn’t found, the government shut down for a second time. Without the willingness of individuals on both sides of the aisle to compromise, a similar situation could result this time around.
If an agreement isn’t reached by October 17, the White House warns that the U.S. will reach its borrowing limit and default on its loans. Although the spending bill and the debt ceiling issues aren’t directly connected, the both must be addressed quickly to maintain economic stability domestically and worldwide.
Sources:
http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/30/politics/government-shutdown-up-to-speed/index.html
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57605784/why-is-it-so-difficult-to-end-the-government-shutdown/