As government shutdown begins, Obama becomes explainer-in-chief The president’s remarks to Department of Defense employees blame Congress for not only the current shutdown but also for summer furloughs. It looks like the finger-pointing and arguing in Washington won’t let up soon, so it’s unclear just how long the government shutdown will drag on. In the midst of all the blame, it seems to have fallen on the executive branch to explain the effects of the shutdown, which went into effect at midnight Tuesday. Early Tuesday morning, President Obama released a video message directed at troops and Department of Defense employees explaining what exactly is going to happen while the shutdown continues, and also pointing a finger at the legislative branch. “To all our DOD civilians, I know the days ahead could mean more uncertainty, including possible furloughs,” he says in the video. “And I know this comes on top of the furloughs that many of you already endured this summer. You and your families deserve better than the dysfunction we’re seeing in Congress.“ The president explains that people on active military duty will remain on normal duty status as a result of special legislation passed Monday night. Tuesday’s video came after Monday’s speech, in which Obama spent a chunk of time listing what will be shut down and what won’t. Social Security checks will go out, Medicare patients will get care, and the mail will run, but NASA will almost completely shut down and national parks will close. Veteran support centers will not be staffed, and Border Patrol Officers’ paychecks will be delayed. Some government agencies are getting the word out themselves. For example, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tweeted this message Tuesday: The shutdown begins on the 123rd anniversary of the founding of Yosemite National Park, which Google honored with its Tuesday doodle. In more explanation news, Tuesday is also the first day for health insurance exchanges to open under the Affordable Care Act—the entire reason for the argument in Congress that has shut down the government. Polls have found that most Americans still don’t fully understand the law. Websites for the federal exchange and state Medicaid expansions were highly trafficked Tuesday morning. Source: Ragan
Posted on: Thu, 03 Oct 2013 08:22:46 +0000