Congress remains gridlocked as House Republicans are still demanding changes to the Affordable Care Act in order to craft a bill that will temporarily fund the federal government. Also of concern, the Oct. 17 deadline for the debt-ceiling is fast approaching with little headway made in ongoing debates in both chambers, according to recent reports.
Republican insiders in both the House and Senate agree that working across the aisle is a surefire way to end the threat of the nation defaulting on its bills for the first time in history. However, House Speaker John Boehner is bristling at what he feels is a snub from Democrats to sit at the table after an anonymous official stated their side is appearing to look better in the eyes of the American people.
“This isn’t some damn game,” Boehner said angrily in front of reporters Friday, adding that the Democratic-controlled Senate should discuss altering the Affordable Care Act. “All we want is to sit down and have a discussion.”
Watch video of House Speaker Boehner speaking to reporters by way of the Washington Post:
Sen. Harry Reid, the Majority Leader of the Senate, has followed the lead of President Barack Obama of not hearing of any discussion that involves limiting or striking down the Act, also known as “Obamacare.”
The White House has also looked to distanced itself from the unnamed official’s comments, and President Obama spoke directly to the matter today while at lunch at a Washington deli with Vice President Joe Biden.
“As long as they’re off the job, nobody’s winning, and that’s the point,” Obama said regarding the government shutdown and furloughed workers nationwide. “We should get this over with as soon as possible.”
The House will remain in session over the weekend to hammer out details of a bill that will offer retroactive pay to furloughed government workers for lost wages because of the shutdown.
Senate Democrats have called on Speaker Boehner and the GOP to pass a funding bill without the political theatrics seemingly fueled by the Tea Party faction within Congress.
“Speaker Boehner may think he can declare a timeout in the war on terrorism, but he can’t, and neither can the Tea Party,” said Illinois Sen. Richard J. Durbin.
