On the first day of the government shutdown legislators appeared to be far more interested in assigning blame than finding a solution while some lawmakers suggested that the shutdown may last for quite some time, according to the Associated Press.
The first government shutdown in 17 years began on Tuesday when over 800,000 federal employees were furloughed and many federal services, most notably all of the National parks, were shut down. Congress had until midnight on Monday to pass a bill to fund the government but was unable to come to a deal because Republicans insisted on defunding or delaying the Affordable Care Act along with the spending bill, a move that Democrats refused to even consider.
Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., suggested that it might be some time before the two sides can find a solution that is agreeable to everyone, according to the Washington Post.
"In the art of negotiation, you have to get to a place where you give both sides the ability to save face," Coburn said. "They'll eventually get there; they'll eventually talk. There'll eventually be a compromise and there'll eventually be a way for Republicans, both sides, to save face."
Democrats are holding firm to the idea that the Affordable Care Act, a law that was passed over three years ago, cannot be used as a bargaining chip in budget negotiations.
"Shutting down our government doesn't accomplish their stated goal," President Barack Obama said in a press conference on Monday. "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."
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., accused Democrats of being happy about the shutdown and failing to take things seriously, according to Politico.
"We're trying to fund government and they're trying to stop any funding because they think it's a parlor game and they'll win politically, but they're not willing to negotiate and I think that's an untenable position," Paul said.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., agreed with Paul that the Democrats were happy to have the government shut down, according to ABC News.
"Democratic leaders in Congress finally have their prize, a government shutdown that no one seems to want but them," McConnell said.
In his press conference in the Rose Garden President Obama made reference to the next pressing issue for Congress to tackle, the debt ceiling. If the debt ceiling is not raised by the middle of October the United States could possibly default on their debt for the first time in the country's history. President Obama continued to walk a hard line on the subject, according to the New York Times.
"[I will not] allow anybody to drag the good name of the United States of America through the mud just to refight a settled election or extract ideological demands," President Obama said. "I'm not out there saying, 'Well, I'm going to let America default unless Congress does something they don't want to do.' That's not how adults operate."
