With less than a week until the October 1 deadline, many are preparing for a potential government shut down. Scheduled to cost the country well over 1 billion dollars, the shutdown would not be the first, but it could be the most inconvenient. As citizens start to wonder how a government shutdown will affect their everyday lives and the financial stability this country is working so hard to achieve, law- makers cannot seem to find common ground in the ever present budget battle.
As the new Affordable Healthcare Act, better known as “Obamacare” comes under scrutiny by some lawmakers, most of whom are Republican, budget discussions and compromises seem a bit far-fetched, and without compromise a shutdown is inevitable. The new healthcare law is scheduled to start enrolling citizens on October 1. In an effort to block the plan the Republican-led House approved legislation to takedown the healthcare law. However, the Democratic-led Senate declared to keep the law despite Republicans’ attempts. Sadly, the potential shutdown is not the only issue that is not being resolved as a matter of lack of compromise or discussion. In just a few weeks, the government could potentially be unable to pay its bills. As a result, some Republicans are using the country’s debt as a bartering tool with Democrats, offering to attach a 1-year delay in the health care law in exchange for ability to increase the nation’s credit limit of $16.7 trillion. Representative Matt Salmon, R-Ariz. stated, “We don’t want to shut down the government, I want to make it clear: We want to shut down Obamacare.”
With a country just climbing out of the valley of one of its greatest recessions, a shutdown would leave many Americans without paychecks, at least temporarily, and without many conveniences. National parks, monuments and museums will close and many federal employees will be on furlough resulting in delayed or discontinued services at least during the duration of the potential shutdown.
Hopefully an agreement will be reached; if not…government shutdown 2013 is upon us.
