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.


               Hagel: House Vote is 'Astoundingly Irresponsible'

   U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel warned the lawmakers whose votes
   early Sunday moved the U.S. government closer to a shutdown about the
   ramifications of their move, saying that if the standoff on Capitol
   Hill continues, the United States will be ungovernable.
   U.S. Republican lawmakers have demanded a one-year delay in President
   Barack Obama`s healthcare program in exchange for funding government
   operations.
   Hagel, a former Republican senator from Nebraska, spoke with reporters
   en route to Seoul to mark the 60th anniversary of the U.S.-South Korea
   defense alliance. He said he is not impressed with the "dangerously
   short-sighted" Republican House political strategy.
   The White House has said it would veto the Republican bill.
   Meanwhile, House members approved a measure to continue paying members
   of the military if the government shuts down. However, about half of
   the department`s 800,000 civilian workers would be placed on unpaid
   leave if Congress fails to agree on a new budget by the close of the
   fiscal year Monday.
   Federal agencies have made plans to furlough all non-essential
   employees starting Tuesday, the first day of the 2014 fiscal year,
   barring a vote in both chambers of Congress to fund the government
   beyond Monday night.
   OPTIONAL HAGEL SOUNDBITES
   "In the United States of America, if this continues, we will have a
   country that`s ungovernable."
   "This is an astoundingly irresponsible way to govern."
     __________________________________________________________________

   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/hagel-house-vote-is-astoundingly-irre
   sponsible/1759257.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/hagel-house-vote-is-astoundingly-irresponsible/1759257.html