Government Shuts Down as Bill to Extend Funding Is Blocked; Senators Continue to Seek Deal

By The New York Times 

The United States government has officially shut down. Lawmakers are now scrambling for a quick deal to reopen it and buy them more negotiation time.

• Much of the federal government officially shut down early Saturday morning after Senate Democrats, showing remarkable solidarity in the face of a clear political danger, blocked consideration of a stopgap spending measure to keep the government operating.

• Senators from both parties were scrambling for a new deal to reopen the government quickly, possibly just hours after the midnight deadline passed.

• The roll call, was 50 in favor and 49 against. Sixty votes are needed to end debate and move to a final vote. Five Democrats voted to end debate, while four Republicans voted with most of the Democrats to block the bill.

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Statement by the  Press Secretary 

Senate Democrats own the Schumer Shutdown. Tonight, they put politics above our national security, military families, vulnerable children, and our country’s ability to serve all Americans. We will not negotiate the status of unlawful immigrants while Democrats hold our lawful citizens hostage over their reckless demands. This is the behavior of obstructionist losers, not legislators. When Democrats start paying our armed forces and first responders we will reopen negotiations on immigration reform. During this politically manufactured Schumer Shutdown, the President and his Administration will fight for and protect the American people. 

Source: The White House, Office of the Press Secretary
 

  SUNY Student Assembly President Responds to Government Shutdown

 Student Assembly President Marc J. Cohen stated: 

"SUNY students are disappointed in the failure of Congress and the President to reach an agreement to keep the federal government open and operational. While many essential services will continue during the shutdown, many in the SUNY family will now have to worry about when they will get their next paycheck and hundreds of thousands of federal employees, and their families, will suffer the consequences of mandatory furloughs.

"While this shutdown is incredibly consequential for many Americans, SUNY students and families can be assured that federal financial aid payments by way of programs like PELL and Stafford loans, which many students depend on, will continue to be dispersed this semester. Most of the staff at the Department of Education will be furloughed however, so issues stemming from FAFSA submission and questions about financial aid may go unanswered for the duration of the shutdown. 

"We strongly urge Democrats and Republicans to work together to keep the federal government funded, and to alleviate the uncertainty that has resulted from continual short term continuing resolutions. The Student Assembly also urges Speaker Paul Ryan and Leader Mitch McConnell to allow clean votes on a bill providing permanent legal status for DACA recipients. A legislative solution to protect DACA recipients has broad bipartisan support in the public and in Congress, and would pass both houses if a vote were called. The young Americans who depend on DACA status for security in the only home they have ever known have waited long enough to have their status assured. 

"Millions of students across New York and our nation are counting on our elected leaders in Washington to put polarized partisanship aside, and move forward in the spirit of progress."

Source: SUNY SA