POINTERS
SAUL LOEB/AFP/GETTY IMAGES
Enter
HUFFINGTON
09.29.13
1
NEARING
THE
CLIFF
Congress is locked in a budget battle over a continuing resolution to fund the federal government. If
no agreement is reached by Sept. 30, a government shutdown is triggered. Spurred on by Sen. Ted
Cruz (R-Texas) and the tea party, House Republicans have passed a bill that would link defunding the
Affordable Care Act, President Barack Obama’s signature achievement, with keeping the government
running. The Senate, where Democrats are in control, isn’t expected to pass the House version, and
Obama’s said he’ll veto any bill that guts health care reform. House Republicans may also use an Oct.
17 deadline for raising the government’s debt limit to seek health care rollbacks and other concessions,
according to remarks by House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) Thursday. Senate Majority Leader
Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Monday that Republicans bent on defunding Obamacare or shutting down the
government are “fanatics” with a Thelma and Louise-like mission to drive the nation over a cliff.