Deadlock Forces Government Shutdown

A political deadlock forced the U.S. government to shutdown Monday night. It’s the first time in 17 years Democrats and Republicans have failed to agree on a budget plan.

While most polls find Republicans are to blame for the shutdown, Emery McClendon, member of the Project 21 black leadership network and a tea party organizer in Fort Wayne, Indiana, said the shutdown came as a result of the two political parties bickering with one another.

“Each side is being stubborn and they need to get down to brass tacks and come to some kind of conclusion and settle this continuing resolution,” said McClendon. “Actually, the best thing I could see that needs to happen – we just need to get a budget. We haven’t had a budget in over four years. If they just settle on a budget we wouldn’t have to worry about these shutdowns anymore.”

The Democratically controlled Senate rejected three compromise solutions offered by House Republicans that would have temporarily addressed Republican concerns about ObamaCare while also allowing the federal government to operate.

McClendon, also the winner of Americans for Prosperity’s 2010 “Activist of the Year” award, says over 70 percent of the American people don’t want the Affordable Health Care Act, but Democrats have refused to accept Republican proposals omitting ObamaCare.

“In the mainstream media you’re seeing the blame being put on Republicans,” said McClendon. “The Republicans in the House are actually doing what’s best for the American people, if the people would just check into it they would see the truth behind this. The problem is they aren’t going to hear this in the mainstream media.”

Rep. Raúl Labrador (R-ID) cosponsor of a resolution introduced by Rep. Tom Graves (R-GA) to fund the government for Fiscal Year 2014 while fully delaying and defunding ObamaCare until 2015. The Graves resolution – which had 59 cosponsors – would have prevented a government shutdown from taking place after September 30, 2013, when current funding for the government expired.

“If there’s any single issue that can unite House Republicans and has the strong support of the American people, it’s getting rid of ObamaCare,” said Rep. Labrador.  “House Republicans should listen to the majority of Americans that are worried that ObamaCare would negatively impact their health care. The Administration has already delayed the employer mandate to 2015. The Congress should delay the mandate for American families too.”

Tea Party Express, the nation’s largest Tea Party political action committee, slammed President Obama, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and the Democrat-controlled Senate for their recalcitrance to solving the current debate on funding the government.

“For weeks now, Republicans have been alone at the negotiating table,” Kremer said.  “President Obama and the Senate Democrats have ignored every opportunity to join their colleagues across the aisle to find a solution. Instead, they have been committed to taking the low road and filling the airwaves with demagoguery and name-calling.”

President Obama blamed the GOP for the government shutdown and said his health care bill was “moving forward.”

The last government shutdown lasted 20 days in the winter of 1995-96. President Bill Clinton faced off against the GOP-controlled Congress lead by Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA).

If a budget isn’t reached by Oct. 17 the government may be forced to raise its debt ceiling again or it can’t pay its bills. President Obama signed a bill Monday that protects military pay in the event of a government shutdown.

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