Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


                        U.S. Government Begins Shutdown

   The U.S. government has enacted a partial shutdown, as the two branches
   of Congress have failed by the October 1st deadline to agree on a
   single spending bill.
   Three times on Monday, the Republican-led House of Representatives
   approved a spending bill that would delay President Barack Obama`s
   signature health care law, known as "Obamacare." In all three cases,
   the Democratic-controlled Senate rejected it minutes later.
   The stalemate means the U.S. government will immediately start shutting
   down all but essential services.
   Despite lawmakers working far into the night, they could not overcome
   the partisan deadlock over "Obamacare," officially known as the
   Affordable Care Act. October 1st is the start date for a major
   component of the program.
   Later Tuesday, President Obama will speak about provisions of the
   health care program that are being activated despite the shutdown. Many
   Americans who lack healthcare insurance will be able to sign up for
   subsidized policies on newly created insurance exchanges.
   Earlier, the president said shutting down the government is the height
   of irresponsibility and throws a wrench into the gears of a recovering
   economy.
   He accused House Republicans who want to defund his health care program
   of appealing to the right-wing Tea Party faction and re-fighting the
   2012 presidential election.
   The president said the entire country would feel the effects of a
   government shutdown -- not just federal employees who would not get
   paid, but citizens who rely on sometimes life-saving government
   services.
   Mr. Obama stressed that his health care program is the law of the land
   -- passed by Congress, approved by voters, and upheld by the Supreme
   Court. He said the law will be implemented Tuesday no matter what
   Congress does.
   He rejected proposals to postpone Obamacare, saying it would lead to
   another fight just a few months from now.
   Democrats say the health care law gives low-income families and people
   without health insurance the chance to buy a low-cost, federally
   subsidized policy to prevent financial ruin in case of serious illness.
   Republicans say the program is confusing and not ready. They also say
   the law hurts the economy by imposing more taxes and by forcing small
   businesses to provide coverage for their employees.
     __________________________________________________________________

   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/us-government-begins-shutdown/1760313
   .html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/us-government-begins-shutdown/1760313.html