Government Shutdown

Every year Congress has to agree on a budget to fund the government. The fiscal year ended on Monday Sept. 30, but Congress was unable come to an agreement about the best way to use federal funds. Without a budget, essentially a law passed by both the House of Representatives and the Senate to pay employees and fund programs for the new fiscal year, the government effectively shut down at midnight on Oct. 1.

“The Republican-dominated House passed two spending bill amendments Sunday morning -- one that would delay Obamacare for a year and one that would repeal the Obamacare's medical device tax. The bill went back to the Senate, where Democrats who control that chamber have consistently said any changes to Obamacare would be a deal-killer”.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/30/politics/government-shutdown-up-to-speed/index.html

Republicans are refusing to vote to fund the government unless Obamacare is repealed/defunded.

Democrats and the Administration are unwilling to peel back their biggest achievement over the last five years to appease Republicans.

Differences between Democrats and Republicans are deepening over virtually every issue and federal spending is the biggest one of all.

How The Shutdown is Affecting Services

 ·      About 800,000 federal workers furloughed

·      The military's 1.4 million active-duty personnel remain on duty, their paychecks delayed

·      NASA is furloughing almost all its employees

·      Air traffic controllers and screeners staying on the job

·      Federal courts continue to operate

·      Mail deliveries continue since U.S. Postal Service is not funded by tax dollars

·      Most Homeland Security employees continue to work

·      Most veterans' services continue because they are funded in advance

·      National Parks and Smithsonian museums closing

http://www.voanews.com/content/us-government-shutdown-missing-key-negotiations-until-now/1761651.html

A government shutdown will not affect Obamacare though. Most of the money for Obamacare comes from new taxes and fees, as well as from cost cuts to other programs like Medicare and other types of funding that will continue despite the government shutdown. Obamacare is supposedly meant to benefit many uninsured Americans, but it seems like it has become an even bigger problem due to the shut down. The government could lose an estimated $200 million a day and could see more than 700,000 jobs take a financial hit if the federal government shut down. In addition to the economic impact, area residents could also see cuts in federal services.