THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN HAS SPARKED INTENSE POLITICAL BATTLES, WITH BOTH PARTIES BLAMING EACH OTHER.

 

VICE PRESIDENT JD VANCE SAID DURING A WHITE HOUSE PRESS CONFERENCE THAT DEMOCRATS REFUSED TO KEEP THE GOVERNMENT OPEN BECAUSE THEY WERE TRYING TO EXTEND FEDERAL HEALTH COVERAGE TO PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY ILLEGALLY. 

 

SOUNDBITE (English) JD Vance, US Vice President:

“So I'd invite Chuck Schumer to join the moderate Democrats and 52 Senate Republicans, do the right thing, open up the people's governments, and then let's fix healthcare policy for the American people.”

 

TOP DEMOCRATS COUNTERED THAT THEY SIMPLY WANT TO RENEW FUNDING FOR HEALTH CARE SUBSIDIES UNDER THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT SO THAT INSURANCE PREMIUMS WON'T SPIKE NATIONWIDE FOR AMERICAN FAMILIES.

 

SOUNDBITE (English) Hakeem Jeffries, House Minority Leader:

“We are fighting to lower the high cost of living and protect the health care of every day Americans.”

 

EVEN GOVERNMENT AGENCIES HAVE WEIGHED IN ON THEIR WEBSITES.

 

MESSAGES BLAMING DEMOCRATS FOR THE SHUTDOWN CAN BE SEEN ON AGENCY WEBSITES, FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT.

 

A NOTICE ON THE HOMEPAGE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE READS:

 

“DUE TO THE RADICAL LEFT DEMOCRAT SHUTDOWN, THIS GOVERNMENT WEBSITE WILL NOT BE UPDATED DURING THE FUNDING LAPSE. PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS MADE IT CLEAR HE WANTS TO KEEP THE GOVERNMENT OPEN AND SUPPORT THOSE WHO FEED, FUEL, AND CLOTHE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.”

 

NEITHER SIDE SHOWS SIGNS OF BACKING DOWN, EVEN THOUGH THE SHUTDOWN COULD IMPACT MANY IMPORTANT PUBLIC SERVICES.

 

PRE-SHUTDOWN POLLING SHOWED MIXED OPINIONS ON WHO IS TO BLAME, THOUGH ATTITUDES COULD SHIFT THE LONGER IT GOES.