Sunday marks Day 13 of government shutdown
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The stakes of the stalemate are high -- and climbing.The partial government shutdown will enter its 14th day Monday, just three days before the U.S. government bumps up against its projected borrowing limit.Talks both on ending the shutdown and on avoiding the debt ceiling have shifted to the Senate, as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, along with other top senators, began discussions this weekend.The Senate reconvened Sunday afternoon, with Reid saying he would do "everything I can throughout the day" to reach some sort of bargain with the chamber's Republican minority.But a source familiar with the ongoing Senate discussions expressed doubt that any significant progress would be made Sunday evening.
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The stakes of the stalemate are high -- and climbing.The partial government shutdown will enter its 14th day Monday, just three days before the U.S. government bumps up against its projected borrowing limit.Talks both on ending the shutdown and on avoiding the debt ceiling have shifted to the Senate, as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, along with other top senators, began discussions this weekend.The Senate reconvened Sunday afternoon, with Reid saying he would do "everything I can throughout the day" to reach some sort of bargain with the chamber's Republican minority.But a source familiar with the ongoing Senate discussions expressed doubt that any significant progress would be made Sunday evening.
Statue of Liberty reopens on New York state's dime
NEW YORK (CNN) -- The Statue of Liberty reopened Sunday morning thanks to state funding after it had been closed for 12 days as a result of the partial government shutdown.New York Gov.
NEW YORK (CNN) -- The Statue of Liberty reopened Sunday morning thanks to state funding after it had been closed for 12 days as a result of the partial government shutdown.New York Gov.
Shutdown hits 'Deadliest Catch' Captain Keith Colburn
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- The effects of the government shutdown have rippled all the way to the waters of Alaska.That was the message delivered on Capitol Hill Friday by Keith Colburn, an Alaskan crab fisherman and star of the Discovery Channel reality show The Deadliest Catch.Speaking before the Senate Commerce Committee, Colburn said the furloughs of staff from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration mean they won't be around to assign quotas before the start of Alaska's crab fishing season next week.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- The effects of the government shutdown have rippled all the way to the waters of Alaska.That was the message delivered on Capitol Hill Friday by Keith Colburn, an Alaskan crab fisherman and star of the Discovery Channel reality show The Deadliest Catch.Speaking before the Senate Commerce Committee, Colburn said the furloughs of staff from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration mean they won't be around to assign quotas before the start of Alaska's crab fishing season next week.
New website lets public drunk dial members of Congress
WASHINGTON D.C. (WITI) -- Are you mad at Congress over the shutdown?
WASHINGTON D.C. (WITI) -- Are you mad at Congress over the shutdown?
Government shutdown affecting businesses in Milwaukee
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- The impact of the government shutdown has trickled all the way down to Milwaukee's Lakefront Brewery.
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- The impact of the government shutdown has trickled all the way down to Milwaukee's Lakefront Brewery.
War Memorial makes space for veterans during gov't shutdown
MILWAUKEE (WITI) – The Milwaukee County War Memorial Center is opening its doors to veteran service officers hampered by the current federal shutdown so the service officers may continue to meet face-to-face with disabled veterans and their families.Since the Milwaukee regional office of the U.S. Department of Affairs shut down Tuesday, October 8th as part of the partial federal government shutdown, some 35 accredited claims officers who work for various veteran service organizations such as the American Legion and the VFW, have found themselves without a place to conduct personal meetings.“We meet with 50 or more veterans every week in our organization alone at the VA regional office,” says Wisconsin American Legion Adjutant David Kurtz. “Navigating the claims process for a disabled veteran is not something that can just be done online or over the phone.
MILWAUKEE (WITI) – The Milwaukee County War Memorial Center is opening its doors to veteran service officers hampered by the current federal shutdown so the service officers may continue to meet face-to-face with disabled veterans and their families.Since the Milwaukee regional office of the U.S. Department of Affairs shut down Tuesday, October 8th as part of the partial federal government shutdown, some 35 accredited claims officers who work for various veteran service organizations such as the American Legion and the VFW, have found themselves without a place to conduct personal meetings.“We meet with 50 or more veterans every week in our organization alone at the VA regional office,” says Wisconsin American Legion Adjutant David Kurtz. “Navigating the claims process for a disabled veteran is not something that can just be done online or over the phone.
On shutdown's 9th day, survivors of fallen troops take center stage
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- When Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel visits Dover Air Force Base Wednesday, he won't just be honoring troops killed in Afghanistan.
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- When Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel visits Dover Air Force Base Wednesday, he won't just be honoring troops killed in Afghanistan.
GOP dropping Affordable Care Act in government shutdown debate?
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Let the arm-twisting begin.
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Let the arm-twisting begin.
Shutdown forces Oklahoma firm to lay off firefighters
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- While the shutdown has furloughed federal workers, small businesses that work closely with the government are also being forced to let people go.Mark Masters owns a firefighting firm and has already laid off a dozen employees in the week since the government shut down.Based in Oklahoma City, Chloeta Fire specializes in battling wildfires, emergency fire response and wildfire preventions.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- While the shutdown has furloughed federal workers, small businesses that work closely with the government are also being forced to let people go.Mark Masters owns a firefighting firm and has already laid off a dozen employees in the week since the government shut down.Based in Oklahoma City, Chloeta Fire specializes in battling wildfires, emergency fire response and wildfire preventions.
Pres. Obama issues debt-ceiling warning, no compromise reached
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Barack Obama is ready to talk even on Republicans' terms, he insisted Tuesday, so long as Congress acts first to end the government shutdown and raise the debt ceiling -- even for a short period.At a news conference, Obama indicated Republicans could essentially set the agenda for budget negotiations, but only if Congress agrees first to a short-term spending plan to fund the government and to raise the federal borrowing limit to avoid a possible first-ever U.S. default next week."I will talk about anything," the president said.House Speaker John Boehner, speaking Tuesday afternoon after what he called a "pleasant" but ineffectual phone call with Obama, promptly rejected the president's comments as nothing new."What the president said today was if there's unconditional surrender by Republicans, he'll sit down and talk to us," Boehner said. "That's not the way our government works."At the same time, Boehner said he's "hopeful" top Republicans and Democrats could soon begin a "conversation.""There's going to be a negotiation here," the Ohio Republican said. "We can't raise the debt ceiling without doing something about what's driving it to borrow more money and live beyond our means."Yet while Boehner didn't indicate any points of agreement, a senior House Republican told CNN's Dana Bash that GOP members may be willing to go for a short-term debt ceiling hike -- lasting four to six weeks -- as long as the president agrees negotiations will occur during that time.Still, it's no guarantee such a measure would be supported by a majority of Republicans: something that Boehner has traditionally required before calling any vote in the House.A second GOP source says the White House drawing a line in the sand not to negotiate has further complicated matters.
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Barack Obama is ready to talk even on Republicans' terms, he insisted Tuesday, so long as Congress acts first to end the government shutdown and raise the debt ceiling -- even for a short period.At a news conference, Obama indicated Republicans could essentially set the agenda for budget negotiations, but only if Congress agrees first to a short-term spending plan to fund the government and to raise the federal borrowing limit to avoid a possible first-ever U.S. default next week."I will talk about anything," the president said.House Speaker John Boehner, speaking Tuesday afternoon after what he called a "pleasant" but ineffectual phone call with Obama, promptly rejected the president's comments as nothing new."What the president said today was if there's unconditional surrender by Republicans, he'll sit down and talk to us," Boehner said. "That's not the way our government works."At the same time, Boehner said he's "hopeful" top Republicans and Democrats could soon begin a "conversation.""There's going to be a negotiation here," the Ohio Republican said. "We can't raise the debt ceiling without doing something about what's driving it to borrow more money and live beyond our means."Yet while Boehner didn't indicate any points of agreement, a senior House Republican told CNN's Dana Bash that GOP members may be willing to go for a short-term debt ceiling hike -- lasting four to six weeks -- as long as the president agrees negotiations will occur during that time.Still, it's no guarantee such a measure would be supported by a majority of Republicans: something that Boehner has traditionally required before calling any vote in the House.A second GOP source says the White House drawing a line in the sand not to negotiate has further complicated matters.
Veterans Admin. Regional Office closed as of Tuesday
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- The Veterans Administration Regional Office in Milwaukee is closed to the public as of Tuesday, October 8th.
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- The Veterans Administration Regional Office in Milwaukee is closed to the public as of Tuesday, October 8th.
Outrage builds over lapse in funding for families of fallen heroes
(CNN) -- A lapse in benefits normally paid to the families of U.S. service members killed in combat is adding to the already existing anger over the partial federal government shutdown.With a good majority of the Pentagon workforce returning to work despite large-scale furloughs hitting other federal agencies, the benefits typically paid to families of the fallen have yet to be restored during the current government shutdown."This particular situation is unthinkable," Rep.
(CNN) -- A lapse in benefits normally paid to the families of U.S. service members killed in combat is adding to the already existing anger over the partial federal government shutdown.With a good majority of the Pentagon workforce returning to work despite large-scale furloughs hitting other federal agencies, the benefits typically paid to families of the fallen have yet to be restored during the current government shutdown."This particular situation is unthinkable," Rep.
Big business CEOs urge Congress to "quit misbehaving"
WASHINGTON (CNNMoney) -- CEOs of some of the nation's largest companies are calling on Congress to get it together.The federal shutdown combined with uncertainty over whether Congress' indecision might push the U.S. into default is making the country a bad place to do business, CEOs are saying.Global aluminum giant Alcoa's CEO Klaus Kleinfeld accused lawmakers of acting like children."(The) last thing we need is those types of disruptions," Kleinfeld told CNN.
WASHINGTON (CNNMoney) -- CEOs of some of the nation's largest companies are calling on Congress to get it together.The federal shutdown combined with uncertainty over whether Congress' indecision might push the U.S. into default is making the country a bad place to do business, CEOs are saying.Global aluminum giant Alcoa's CEO Klaus Kleinfeld accused lawmakers of acting like children."(The) last thing we need is those types of disruptions," Kleinfeld told CNN.
Day Seven of government shutdown, and no end in sight
(CNN) -- No negotiations to end shutdown - Midnight on Tuesday marks a week of the partial shutdown of the federal government and there's no end in sight.President Barack Obama continues to refuse to negotiate with Republicans.
(CNN) -- No negotiations to end shutdown - Midnight on Tuesday marks a week of the partial shutdown of the federal government and there's no end in sight.President Barack Obama continues to refuse to negotiate with Republicans.
House Speaker John Boehner demands cuts for debt limit increase
(CNN) -- House Republicans won't support raising the federal government's borrowing limit without new spending cuts from the Obama administration, and the White House risks an unprecedented U.S. default by refusing, House Speaker John Boehner said Sunday.Speaking six days into a partial government shutdown and 11 days before the Treasury Department expects to hit its statutory debt ceiling, Boehner told ABC's "This Week" that he wants "a serious conversation" about spending, but no tax increases.
(CNN) -- House Republicans won't support raising the federal government's borrowing limit without new spending cuts from the Obama administration, and the White House risks an unprecedented U.S. default by refusing, House Speaker John Boehner said Sunday.Speaking six days into a partial government shutdown and 11 days before the Treasury Department expects to hit its statutory debt ceiling, Boehner told ABC's "This Week" that he wants "a serious conversation" about spending, but no tax increases.
WI lawmakers back home this weekend as gov't shutdown continues
NEW BERLIN (WITI) -- A couple Wisconsin lawmakers were home this weekend -- and spoke out on the ongoing government shutdown.
NEW BERLIN (WITI) -- A couple Wisconsin lawmakers were home this weekend -- and spoke out on the ongoing government shutdown.
The government shutdown, the IRS and your taxes
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- If you were thinking that the government shutdown meant you would get out of paying your taxes, think again.While only 9% of Internal Revenue Service employees -- roughly 8,750 out of nearly 95,000 workers -- are currently working, the underlying tax law remains in effect.That means "all taxpayers should continue to meet their tax obligations," according to the IRS's website.Need an IRS employee to answer a question, though? "That's where there will be challenges," said Edward Karl, a certified public accountant and vice president of taxation for the American Institute of CPAs.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- If you were thinking that the government shutdown meant you would get out of paying your taxes, think again.While only 9% of Internal Revenue Service employees -- roughly 8,750 out of nearly 95,000 workers -- are currently working, the underlying tax law remains in effect.That means "all taxpayers should continue to meet their tax obligations," according to the IRS's website.Need an IRS employee to answer a question, though? "That's where there will be challenges," said Edward Karl, a certified public accountant and vice president of taxation for the American Institute of CPAs.
House Speaker John Boehner demands cuts for debt limit increase
(CNN) -- House Republicans won't support raising the federal government's borrowing limit without new spending cuts from the Obama administration, and the White House risks an unprecedented U.S. default by refusing, House Speaker John Boehner said Sunday.Speaking six days into a partial government shutdown and 11 days before the Treasury Department expects to hit its statutory debt ceiling, Boehner told ABC's "This Week" that he wants "a serious conversation" about spending, but no tax increases.
(CNN) -- House Republicans won't support raising the federal government's borrowing limit without new spending cuts from the Obama administration, and the White House risks an unprecedented U.S. default by refusing, House Speaker John Boehner said Sunday.Speaking six days into a partial government shutdown and 11 days before the Treasury Department expects to hit its statutory debt ceiling, Boehner told ABC's "This Week" that he wants "a serious conversation" about spending, but no tax increases.
Hagel: Most civilian Defense workers can return next week
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announced Saturday that "most civilians placed on emergency furlough during the government shutdown will be asked to return to work beginning next week."Under Secretary of Defense Robert F.
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announced Saturday that "most civilians placed on emergency furlough during the government shutdown will be asked to return to work beginning next week."Under Secretary of Defense Robert F.
New hope for debt deal, but not for government shutdown
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Friday was another day, which meant another round of grandstanding rhetoric but little progress in halting a government shutdown -- an ordeal both Republicans and Democrats say they don't want but claim they are unable to stop."This isn't some damn game!" House Speaker John Boehner said at a news conference in which he ratcheted up pressure on President Barack Obama and Senate Democrats to negotiate changes to Obamacare as part of any deal to end the shutdown that started Tuesday.Repeating his insistence that the other side was responsible for the furlough of up to 800,000 federal workers and other impacts of the shutdown, Boehner said Democrats were willing to let the stalemate continue because they think they are winning the public debate."The American people don't want their government shut down and neither do I," he said, calling again for talks on anti-Obamacare provisions that House GOP leaders say are intended to ensure fairness under the president's signature health care reforms.Obama challenges Boehner on shutdownFor his part, Obama repeated his challenge for Boehner to let the House vote on a Senate version of a spending plan to end the shutdown, saying it would pass "today.""I'm happy to have negotiations.
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Friday was another day, which meant another round of grandstanding rhetoric but little progress in halting a government shutdown -- an ordeal both Republicans and Democrats say they don't want but claim they are unable to stop."This isn't some damn game!" House Speaker John Boehner said at a news conference in which he ratcheted up pressure on President Barack Obama and Senate Democrats to negotiate changes to Obamacare as part of any deal to end the shutdown that started Tuesday.Repeating his insistence that the other side was responsible for the furlough of up to 800,000 federal workers and other impacts of the shutdown, Boehner said Democrats were willing to let the stalemate continue because they think they are winning the public debate."The American people don't want their government shut down and neither do I," he said, calling again for talks on anti-Obamacare provisions that House GOP leaders say are intended to ensure fairness under the president's signature health care reforms.Obama challenges Boehner on shutdownFor his part, Obama repeated his challenge for Boehner to let the House vote on a Senate version of a spending plan to end the shutdown, saying it would pass "today.""I'm happy to have negotiations.