Fed Government Shuts Down as GOP, Dems Reach Impasse

As of midnight Wednesday, the U.S. government officially shut down.

The shutdown went into effect after congressional leaders from both sides of the aisle could not reach a deal on a stopgap spending bill, The Hill reported.

There were two stopgap funding measures up for vote — both of which were voted down.

A “clean” bill was offered by Republicans; the other was packed with priorities set forth by Democrats.

Now, the two sides are blaming each other for the stalemate.

“The Democrat caucus here in town in the Senate has chosen to shut down the government over a clean, nonpartisan funding bill. That’s right — a clean, nonpartisan funding bill,” Senate Majority Leader 👤John Thune (R-S.D.) said.

“Senate Democrats said ‘no.’ Because far left interest groups and far left Democrat members wanted a showdown with the president.”

Senate Minority Leader 👤Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) offered the opposing view.

“Republicans are plunging America into a shutdown—rejecting bipartisan talks, pushing a partisan bill, and risking America’s healthcare, worst of all,” Schumer (D-N.Y.) told reporters. “They’ve got to sit down and negotiate with Democrats to come to a bill that both parties can support.”

This marks the fourth