The US Capitol in Washington is seen on September 30, 2013 , a day before the government shutdown began.
- U.S. government shuts down for the first time in 17 years [TIME]
- “In a sign of just how entrenched Washington is, Congress is fighting over just a few months of government funding. Sometime in November or December, Congress and the White House will have to agree on a longer-term funding bill to last into 2014. This is just the first fiscal fight of the fall. The debt ceiling must be lifted by Oct. 17.” [Politico]
- “A government shutdown this week would jeopardize the paychecks of more than 800,000 federal workers who could be told to stay home. The federal government has more than 2 million employees.” [WashPost]
- “Global investors reacted calmly on Tuesday as the government shut down in Washington, taking heart from the latest sign that the Japanese economy is gaining momentum after years of torpor.” [NYT]
- “In the end, the impasse resulted as much from the internal dynamics of Mr. Boehner’s GOP caucus as it did from the partisan divisions in the country as a whole and the chasm between Democrats and Republicans about basic tax-and-spending policies.” [WSJ]
- “The Republican Party is marginalizing itself to the brink of extinction. President Obama can’t capitulate to GOP demands to unwind the fairly legislated and litigated Affordable Care Act. To do so would be political malpractice and a poor precedent for future presidents. Despite the prior two points, Obama and his party won’t escape voters’ wrath. Democrats are less at fault but not blameless.” [National Journal]
- “American voters oppose 72 to 22 percent Congress shutting down the federal government to block implementation of the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare…American voters are divided on Obamacare, with 45 percent in favor and 47 percent opposed.” [Quinnipiac]
- Obamacare Exchanges Open for Business: What You Need to Know [TIME]
- The Seven Most Likely Obamacare Glitches: Some Don’t Worry Me, Others Give Me Nightmares [TNR]