Obama fails in new attempt at agreement.
A partial shutdown of the federal government entered its third day on Thursday, with a stalemate between Republicans and Democrats; among the suspended government activities are services that guarantee meals for the elderly and children, communication channels such as call centers, all national parks and monuments, such as Yosemite, the Smithsonian, and the Statue of Liberty.
From the Lusa News Agency
Washington The meeting at the White House in Washington between President Barack Obama and Democratic and Republican leaders to resolve the impasse over the US budget ended without conclusions and with an exchange of accusations.
US House Speaker John Boehner, a Republican, accused President Barack Obama's Democrats at the end of the hour-long meeting last night (2) of not wanting to negotiate to end the partial shutdown of the federal government. "The president reiterated once again that he will not negotiate," he said.
Earlier, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid left the meeting accusing Republicans of not changing their minds about using the budget crisis to undo the health insurance law. "We're locked in on Obamacare," Reid said.
The partial shutdown of the federal government is set to enter its third day today (3). Among the government activities suspended are services that guarantee access to meals for the elderly and children, communication channels such as call centers, all national parks and monuments such as Yosemite or the Smithsonian and the Statue of Liberty.
Investigations into diseases, patient enrollment for clinical trials at health institutes, and the consumer protection system, which extends from the safety of baby products to financial products and waste management, are still hampered.
On the other hand, thousands of civil servants deployed in counter-terrorism operations, border control, food inspection, or air transport security continue to work but are no longer being paid, while thousands are being sent home without pay.