Democrats shut down government for a tax increase

10/01/13

SHUTDOWN: Hundreds of thousands to go without pay as federal government loses funding for first time in 17 YEARS. Lawmakers fail to pass budget after Democrats refused to alter Obamacare

At midnight the federal government entered a new fiscal year without a checkbook

The Obama administration's Office of Management and Budget has told federal agencies to 'execute plans for an orderly shutdown due to the absence of appropriations'

Republicans offered three stepwise concessions while the White House said it wouldn't negotiate and the Senate Majority Leader refused to sit down with the GOP, saying they had 'lost their mind'

House leaders in the GOP aimed for both parties to appoint 'conferees' – negotiators – who could try to find common ground with the Senate

Debate over the federal budget had turned into a game of ping-pong as the Senate killed each new version as soon as the House approved it

Democrats blamed the GOP for holding back on government funding unless changes were made to Obamacare

President Obama and House Speaker Boehner broke the communications blackout Monday night with a brief phone call, but it was for nought

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