Failure Of Last Ditch Effort To Secure Funding Results In A Partial Shutdown Of US Government


01/20/2018



In what turned out to be a chaotic end to the first year as U.S. President for Donald Trump, the U.S. Government went into a partial shut down following the failure of an eleventh-hour effort to ensure a deal for government funding.
 
A dramatic late-night voting stopped a stop-gap measure undertaken and approved on Friday by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives to prevent the shutdown for four weeks.
 
Democrats were called "obstructionist losers, not legislators" by the White House and blamed them for the impasse.
 
"Democrats are far more concerned with illegal immigrants than they are with our great military or safety at our dangerous southern border," Mr Trump tweeted after the shutdown began.
 
"They could have easily made a deal but decided to play shutdown politics instead."
 
Al of the government funded essential operations throughout the U.S. came to a closure because of the failure which meant that the Government technically had not money.
 
In case the shut down is extended into Monday, about 2 million of civil workers would not be allowed to work even though the US troops will remain at their posts and mail will be delivered.
 
Despite one single party – the Republicans, possessing the control over both the Congress and the White House, a partial shutdown has happened for the first time.  
 
The Senate scheduled the vote on the stopgap plan following multiple closed-door meetings and phone calls.
 
While 60 was the magic number of the vote, the motion was defeated 50 votes to 48.
 
The Democrats insisted that the spending bill should contain measures for protection of about 700,000 younger immigrants facing deportation and this was the reason that they clustered together to block the legislation.
 
It would be in early March that the right to stay in the U.S. for the group known as "Dreamers", is slated to end.
 
No negotiation about the status of the Dreamers would be held "while Democrats hold our lawful citizens hostage over their reckless demands", the White House said after the shutdown started.
 
"When Democrats start paying our armed forces and first responders we will reopen negotiations," it said in a statement.
 
Blame for the shutdown should "fall entirely on Mr Trump's shoulders", said Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer.
 
"When [Mr] Trump decides he is ready to lead his party to a deal, Democrats will be ready, willing and eager to clinch it," Mr Schumer said.
 
The actions of the Democrats were "unconscionable", said Vice-President Mike Pence as he commented on the standoff.
 
"As of tonight, due to a completely avoidable Government shutdown, [men and women in uniform] will stand their post without pay," he said.
 
Despite the partial shutdown, usual working would be continued by "essential" employees who are engaged with public safety and national security,
 
(Source:www.abc.net.au)