National

Washington [US], February 26: The effort to 'rescue' the US government from the risk of partial shutdown on March 1 has just failed in the US Congress, according to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (Democratic Party) because of Republican obstruction. return.
"We only have a few days left before the US government must partially shut down on March 1. Unless Republican lawmakers work seriously, the government shutdown will threaten the economy, driving up costs." increased, making society less secure and making life more difficult for the American people," The Hill newspaper on February 26 quoted the content of Mr. Schumer's letter to US lawmakers.
Majority Leader Schumer said intense discussions are continuing between bipartisan leaders in the House and Senate on the issue of rescuing the government .
By March 1 , the US Congress must pass a budget funding bill for ministries such as agriculture, energy, transportation, housing and urban development, as well as other departments for fiscal year 2024. If it fails, , the US government will have to partially shut down for the first time in many years.
A total of 12 annual government spending bills need to receive bipartisan support if they are to pass.
However, the US House of Representatives, currently dominated by the Republican Party, has not yet compromised with the Democrats. Even the House Freedom Group, including ultra-conservative Republican lawmakers, wants US House Speaker Mike Johnson to pressure the Democrats to make concessions so the budget spending bill can pass. .
Some of the group's demands are to cut the salary of US Secretary of the Interior Alejandro Mayorkas to zero, eliminate the Pentagon policy of paying for travel for military relatives to get abortions, and abolish Planned Parenthood. (non-profit organization providing reproductive health services in the US).
Facing criticism from Mr. Schumer, Republican senator Rick Scott said that the delay was partly due to the fault of the majority leader in the Senate.
According to Mr. Scott, all 12 bills have been ready for the past few months, but Mr. Schumer refused the opportunity to debate, edit and pass.
"Instead, he spent four months on a bill to fund the Ukrainian government , not the country's government," Mr. Scott responded.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper