US budget stalemate drags on

The US political stalemate in Congress is showing no signs of easing, leaving government services from informational websites, to international war graves, closed.

Politicians in both parties ominously suggested the partial shutdown might last for weeks.

The funding cutoff for much of the government began after a Republican effort to kill or delay the nation’s health care law stalled action on a short-term, traditionally routine spending bill.

National parks like Yellowstone and Alcatraz Island were closed, government websites went dark, war cemeteries around the world, including the Normandy D-Day graves were shut and hundreds of thousands of non-essential workers were laid off.

President Barack Obama also cancelled two stops on his long-planned trip to Asia because of the shutdown.

About 800,000 staff – about a third of the federal workforce – are being sent home in the first government shutdown in 17 years, suspending most non-essential federal programmes and services. Those classified as essential employees – such as air traffic controllers, Border Patrol agents and most food inspectors – will continue to work.

Even as many government agencies closed their doors, health insurance exchanges that are at the core of Mr Obama’s health care law were up and running, taking applications for coverage.

“Shutting down our government doesn’t accomplish their stated goal,” Mr Obama said of his Republican opponents. “The Affordable Care Act is a law that passed the House; it passed the Senate. The Supreme Court ruled it constitutional. It was a central issue in last year’s election. It is settled, and it is here to stay. And because of its funding sources, it’s not impacted by a government shutdown.”

He accused Republicans of causing the shutdown as part of a non-stop “ideological crusade” to wipe out his signature health care law.

Republican leaders faulted the Democratic-led Senate for killing a request from the Republican-controlled House request to open official negotiations on the temporary spending bill. Senate Democrats led by Majority Leader Harry Reid insist that Republicans give in and pass their simple, straightforward temporary funding bill, known as a continuing resolution.

There were suggestions from leaders in both parties that the shutdown could last for weeks and grow to encompass the measure to increase the debt limit.

Stock markets around the world reacted resiliently, with analysts saying significant damage to the US economy was unlikely unless the shutdown lasted more than a few days.

The stalemate pits Democrats against a core of conservative small-government activists who have mounted a campaign to seize the must-do budget measure in an effort to dismantle the 2010 health care reform, which is intended to provide coverage for the millions of Americans now uninsured. Republicans passionately oppose the plan they have dubbed “Obamacare” as wasteful and restricting freedom by requiring most Americans to have health insurance.

While Republican leaders seemed determined to press on, some Republicans conceded they might bear the brunt of any public anger over the shutdown – and seemed resigned to an eventual surrender in their latest bruising struggle with Obama.