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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| US Senate would reject House bill as shutdown looms | US Senate would reject House bill as shutdown looms |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| US Senate Majority leader Harry Reid has warned that his Democratic-led chamber will reject a House Republican bill to avert a government shutdown. | US Senate Majority leader Harry Reid has warned that his Democratic-led chamber will reject a House Republican bill to avert a government shutdown. |
| The White House says President Barack Obama would also veto the bill. | |
| The Senate passed its own bill to fund government until 15 November - ahead of the 1 October shutdown deadline. | The Senate passed its own bill to fund government until 15 November - ahead of the 1 October shutdown deadline. |
| But House Republicans are refusing to support the measure without a provision to remove funding from President Barack Obama's healthcare law. | But House Republicans are refusing to support the measure without a provision to remove funding from President Barack Obama's healthcare law. |
| In a statement, Senator Reid said that "after weeks of futile political games from Republicans, we are still at square one". | In a statement, Senator Reid said that "after weeks of futile political games from Republicans, we are still at square one". |
| He added that Republican efforts to pass the House bill - that would delay the healthcare law for a year and repeal a tax on medical devices - were pointless. | He added that Republican efforts to pass the House bill - that would delay the healthcare law for a year and repeal a tax on medical devices - were pointless. |
| Speaking for the president, White House spokesman said: "Any member of the Republican Party who votes for this bill is voting for a shutdown." | |
| However, House Republicans were continuing to move towards a vote on their bill late on Saturday. | |
| The Senate is controlled by Mr Obama's Democratic party, while the Republicans hold the majority in the House of Representatives. | The Senate is controlled by Mr Obama's Democratic party, while the Republicans hold the majority in the House of Representatives. |
| 'Acting responsibly' | 'Acting responsibly' |
| The looming shutdown is one of two fiscal crises facing the US government. On 17 October, the US treasury department's authority to borrow money to fund its debt obligations expires unless Congress approves a rise in the so-called debt ceiling. | The looming shutdown is one of two fiscal crises facing the US government. On 17 October, the US treasury department's authority to borrow money to fund its debt obligations expires unless Congress approves a rise in the so-called debt ceiling. |
| On Friday, President Obama urged House Republicans to pass the Senate's stopgap budget bill and to extend the debt limit, and demanded they not threaten to "burn the house down because you haven't gotten 100% of your way". | On Friday, President Obama urged House Republicans to pass the Senate's stopgap budget bill and to extend the debt limit, and demanded they not threaten to "burn the house down because you haven't gotten 100% of your way". |
| Mr Obama said if the nation were to default on its debt, it would have a "profound destabilising effect" on the world economy. | Mr Obama said if the nation were to default on its debt, it would have a "profound destabilising effect" on the world economy. |
| "Voting for the treasury to pay its bills is not a concession to me," he said. "No-one gets to hurt our economy... just because there are a couple of laws [they] don't like." | "Voting for the treasury to pay its bills is not a concession to me," he said. "No-one gets to hurt our economy... just because there are a couple of laws [they] don't like." |
| He described the healthcare law as "a done deal" and said the Republican-backed repeal effort was "not going to happen". | He described the healthcare law as "a done deal" and said the Republican-backed repeal effort was "not going to happen". |
| Mr Obama said the Senate had "acted responsibly" in passing the budget measure and that now it was up to Republicans in the House of Representatives "to do the same". | Mr Obama said the Senate had "acted responsibly" in passing the budget measure and that now it was up to Republicans in the House of Representatives "to do the same". |
| Civilian cuts | Civilian cuts |
| If the government does shut down on 1 October, as many as a third of its 2.1 million employees are expected to stop work - with no guarantee of back pay once the deadlock is resolved. | If the government does shut down on 1 October, as many as a third of its 2.1 million employees are expected to stop work - with no guarantee of back pay once the deadlock is resolved. |
| National parks and Washington's Smithsonian museums would close, pension and veterans' benefit cheques would be delayed, and visa and passport applications would be stymied. | National parks and Washington's Smithsonian museums would close, pension and veterans' benefit cheques would be delayed, and visa and passport applications would be stymied. |
| Programmes deemed essential, such as air traffic control and food inspections, would continue. | Programmes deemed essential, such as air traffic control and food inspections, would continue. |
| The defence department has advised employees that uniformed members of the military will continue on "normal duty status", but "large numbers" of civilian workers will be told to stay home. | The defence department has advised employees that uniformed members of the military will continue on "normal duty status", but "large numbers" of civilian workers will be told to stay home. |