Government Shutdown Would Have Major Effect On New York
WASHINGTON (CBSNewYork) -- The countdown to a government shutdown is on, with the deadline just 25 hours away.
If a shutdown went ahead, 72,000 federal employees in New York would be out of work. Nearly 54,000 local military members and 11,500 civilian employees would have their pay delayed if the shutdown lasts more than 10 days.
Loans to small businesses in the area would be put on the backburner, affecting an estimated 1,000 per week.
Head Start Centers could also close, affecting nearly 52,000 local children.
As CBS News' Tara Mergener reported Sunday night, House Republicans took aim at U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) for not holding a session just two days before the possible shutdown.
On Saturday, the House passed a spending bill that would keep the government funded through December 15 but delay or undo several key provisions of Obamacare, sending its latest proposal back to the Senate. CBS News reported.
But President Obama and Senate Democrats said they will not support any legislation that cuts into the health care plan.
Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) does not believe GOP conservatives are looking for a compromise.
"Almost 45 times now, the House Republicans have voted to abolish Obamacare – not to change it; not to come up with any specific change," Durbin said.
But Republicans blamed the Democrats for the budget impasse.
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said on "Face the Nation" that intransigence on the part of the president is a driving factor in the deadlock.
"I have said all along it is not a good idea to shut down government," he said, adding he thinks "it is not a good idea to give the president 100 percent of what he wants on Obamacare without compromise."
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) a chief proponent of defunding the healthcare law, similarly blamed the Senate for Congress' failure to secure a deal, CBS News reported.
"So far, Majority Leader Harry Reid has essentially told the House of Representatives and the American people, 'Go jump in a lake.' He said, "I'm not willing to compromise, I'm not willing to even talk." His position is 100 percent of Obamacare must be funded in all instances, and, other than that, he's going to shut the government down."
And with the Tuesday deadline lurching closer, Obama met with his senior staff Sunday to discuss the possible shutdown.
CBS News Chief White House Correspondent Major Garrett reported Sunday that there are no plans for President Obama to speak about the looming shutdown outside of his statement with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Monday late morning. That means no dramatic presidential announcement in the late evening hours as the shutdown approaches.
You May Also Be Interested In These Stories
