Another day has passed without progress on the government shutdown, and an end is nowhere in sight. Democrats and Republicans in the federal government say they aren’t budging until the other side gives in.
President Barack Obama told Republicans, who hold a majority in the House of Representatives, that he will negotiate with them on budget issues only after they pass bills to reopen the government and raise the debt ceiling. The federal debt is expected to reach the current ceiling Oct. 17, which could have implications for the government’s credit rating and its debt status.
Obama said some Republicans are holding the government hostage in order to get massive cuts in federal programs.
“We can’t make extortion routine as part of our democracy,” Obama said.
See the story at Reuters.
