On Tuesday evening, the Senate first rejected a project reported by Democrats containing, among others Restoring subsidies to private health insurance (Obamacare), and then also a “pure” extension of the current budget, which was voted last week by the Chamber of Representatives. This second project supported three senators from the Democrats Club, but it was not enough to get the required most 60 votes. If by midnight (6 am Polish time) the Senate does not vote for this project, from Wednesday most federal institutions will stop workingand most officials will be sent for a forced vacation. The White House issued instructions to agencies to start implementing Shutddown plans.
No agreement in the American Senate
Both parties blamed each other for an impasse. President Donald Trump, who rejected the Democrats' proposal on Monday during a meeting in the White House, claimed that he did not want Shutdown, but He suggested that he may have positive effects – although unfavorable for the opposition – and lead to the dismissal of tens of thousands of federal employees. He also claimed, contrary to the facts, that the Democrats were blocked by the provisional because they wanted illegal immigrants to use free health care.
Democrats leader in the Senate Chuck Schumer He argued that his party was open to negotiationsbut continuing the current budget will mean a significant increase in health insurance prices for millions of Americans.
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– When we talk here, tens of millions of Americans receive letters informing them that their health insurance fees will increase by an average of 114 percent. For a working family who needs healthcare, this is a huge increase – he argued. Schumer reminded that When he was the leader of the majority in the Senate, the makeshift was accepted 13 times, because the ruling party negotiated with the Republicans. He also referred to polls, which show that voters mostly blame the Republican crisis.
The leader of the ruling party in the Senate John Thune announced, however, that the Senate will again vote on the same Republican project extending the current budget until November 21.
According to estimates of the Congress Budget Office (CBO), on average, about 750,000 will be closed on forced vacation each day. federal employees. The director of CBO Phillip Swagel on Tuesday emphasized that the number of employees on forced vacation may change overnight. Employees will receive remuneration for this period after the Shutddown end. As Axios pointed out, the Congress members receive remuneration despite the suspension of financing.
What is Shutdown?
Shutdown can affect the availability and scope of some services. Trump administration can leave some facilities, e.g. parks, open, but most likely the size of the staff serving them will be limited.
The staff of the armed forces remain in their positions, but the Pentagon is to send half their civilian employees home. Visits of foreign guests scheduled for the Shutdown period are to be canceled, unless the Pentagon management decides differently.
FBI agents and other law enforcement agencies are also to continue work. Also, most people employed by the transport safety administration will remain at work.
During the first term of Trump, the longest immobilization of the US government in history. It lasted 35 days: from December 22, 2018 to January 25, 2019, the dispute between the president and the Congress concerned the financing of the wall on the border with Mexico. The previous Shutdown took place in 2013.
