On Thursday, October 17th, the government shutdown ended as President Obama signed a bill that passed the new budget and will allow for the debt ceiling to be raised through February.
Earlier outrage from select Republicans targeted Obama’s health care plan, which was the main reason for the budget raise. The House of Representatives did not originally pass the bill by the October 1st deadline, resulting in the government shutdown, leaving thousands of government employees furloughed. The Affordable Health Care Act (Obamacare) began on October 1st regardless.
Following Thursday’s events, Mr. Obama made a speech in the White House where he said, “You don’t like a particular policy, or a particular president, then argue for your position. Go out there and win an election. Push to change it. But don’t break it.”
The 16 day long shutdown delayed economic growth, closed National Parks, kept many FDA, IRS, and FCC workers at home, and further divided Republicans and Democrats.
Thursday, government employees returned to work, National Parks began reopening, and the popular “Panda Cub” cam began rebroadcasting from the National Zoo.
Sources:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/18/us/politics/obama-budget-crisis.html?hp
brian96 • Oct 29, 2013 at 10:58 pm
Obama’s speech is correct in the sense that the government has been starting to work against itself. all of the forcefulness is leading to an unproductive govt
Sarah Timmons 92 • Oct 29, 2013 at 8:51 pm
It is great that the government shutdown is over, now people can go back to their jobs and hopefully the Republicans and Democrats can work together and make our country a better place.
Adam Cucchiara 96 • Oct 29, 2013 at 1:15 pm
I think it is ridiculious how our government handles itself. How our leaders would rather put thousands of citizens out of jobs with possibly no pay than let a bill that they didn’t like pass. I think that our congress needs a complete reform.