US Shutdown FAQ: Top 7 Things to Know About The Crisis in America
How does a government 'shut down'? What does it even mean? It's time we simplified the complicated and got down to some fundamental stuff.
By Sadho Ram — 03 Oct 2013, 04:52 PM — Updated about 11 years ago
1. What does a government shutdown mean?
The failure to agree a federal budget means that hundreds of thousands of US public servants will be put on unpaid leave. The president and members of Congress will continue to be paid in the shutdown.
irishtimes.com
2. Who will be blamed for the shutdown?
Republicans will take most of the blame, according to polls. Television news channel CNN found in a poll yesterday that 46 per cent of people would hold Republicans responsible for the shutdown, while 36 per cent would blame the president, despite 57 per cent saying that they oppose Obamacare.
3. Will this stop Obamacare from happening?
No. the key parts of Obamacare rely on mandatory spending that isn't affected by a shutdown. "That includes the new online marketplaces, known as exchanges, where uninsured people will be able to shop for coverage. The Medicaid expansion is funded with mandatory funding, as are the billions in federal tax credits to help with purchasing coverage."
washingtonpost.com4. Has this ever happened before?
Yes, for 28 days in 1995 and 1996. Then-President Bill Clinton vetoed a spending bill that landed on his desk from the Republican-controlled Congress because he didn’t agree with its funding levels for education, environmental protections, and pensioner health care.
rferl.org
5. How many government workers could be furloughed?
Most of the 3.3 million government workers are deemed "essential" -- they'll keep working. But more than 800,000 government employees will sit at home, according to a CNN analysis.
cnn.com6. How will this affect a US citizen?
D.C.'s garbage collection stops during a shutdown. (The Washington Post)
Image via washingtonpost.comIn ways big and small. The mail will continue to come. The military will continue to fight. And Social Security checks will continue to be paid. But if they need a federal loan to buy a house, they'll have to wait.
rferl.org
7. Finally, how will this shutdown end?
Congress needs to pass a bill (or bills) to fund the government, and the White House has to sign them. They can do this at any time. Or they can sit at home and keep the government closed. Nothing requires them to do anything. It depends what sort of political pressure they're facing.
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