US President criticizes irresponsible Republicans

After a part of the US government had to temporarily shut down because the White House and the Democratic-controlled Senate failed to reach a last-minute compromise on the night of September 30 with the Republican majority in the House of Representatives on the 2014 fiscal budget spending plan, US President Barack Obama criticized Republican lawmakers.

Speaking in the Rose Garden of the White House on October 1, President Obama said that Republicans had waged an "ideological campaign" to eliminate his proposed health care reform law - known as "Obamacare". According to him, Republicans were responsible for the government shutdown when they wanted to deny affordable health care to millions of Americans.

US President Barack Obama. (Source: telegraph.co.uk)

President Obama also announced that he would veto three emergency budget bills that House Republicans are planning to approve to restore veterans programs, reopen federal parks and operate in the District of Columbia. The White House said all three bills are insufficient and that Republicans need to take more serious steps.

The first shutdown of a part of the US federal government in 17 years has had an immediate impact not only on the lives and activities of the American people but also had a significant impact on the whole world.

The partial shutdown will primarily affect government employees, with an estimated 800,000 to 1 million of the 2.8 million people expected to be furloughed. National parks, libraries, and museums in Washington and across the country were closed until further notice as of the morning of October 1. NASA is also expected to furlough nearly all of its employees.

In the essential departments and agencies such as air traffic control, passenger screening, federal courts, and the postal service, 86 percent of the Department of Homeland Security's 200,000 employees will continue to work but will receive delayed pay. Coast Guard, Customs, Border Patrol, Secret Service agents, and those working on drug trafficking will continue to operate. A portion of the Pentagon has also been closed, affecting 400,000 civilian employees, although at the last minute, on the night of September 30, Congress passed a budget to continue paying 1.4 million troops and President Obama signed it.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll released on October 1 found that 44% of Americans said both the White House and Congress were responsible for the shutdown, with 25% blaming Republicans, 14% blaming the Obama administration and 5% blaming Democratic lawmakers. Experts warn that the shutdown could slow the US economic recovery, while stock market investors rushed to sell assets on October 1, sending stocks tumbling. A prolonged shutdown could cut into tourism revenue and American consumers could cut back on spending.

The shutdown of part of the US federal government also has a significant impact on the world. Speaking while visiting South Korea, US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel warned that the government shutdown could damage credibility and cause allies to question US commitments. The US State Department announced that consular operations at US embassies abroad will continue as long as funding is available. Local staff working for US diplomatic facilities may also be placed on unpaid leave. Diplomatic activities will be limited because foreign trips by diplomats will be limited. Foreign tourists visiting the US may be disappointed because many federal tourist sites will be closed, especially in the capital Washington.

The shutdown is the direct result of three years of relentless power struggles between the White House and Congress, between Democrats and Republicans, over spending cuts, tax reform, and health care. This power struggle will continue as the $16.7 trillion national debt ceiling approaches, and if Congress does not raise the ceiling, the Treasury Department will no longer be able to borrow to fund its operations and social welfare programs.

How long the shutdown lasts, whether it will be 21 days like in 1985 under President Bill Clinton or longer, now depends entirely on the compromises between the factions. However, so far there has been no sign of any de-escalation on either side. The 2014 midterm elections and the 2016 general election have made both sides more determined in their views. The Republicans are now betting on regaining control of the Senate in next year's election to control both houses of Congress while the Obama administration refuses to back down. On the night of September 30, after the Senate rejected the House's proposal for the third time, President Obama strongly declared that Obamacare "is still moving forward and no one can abolish it"./.

According to (TTXVN) - DT