Shutdown Enters Week 2: Roundup
With the shutdown now more than a week old, little has apparently changed in the House GOP position. While there had been some signs of a loosening position, in weekend interviews Speaker Boehner (R-OH) continued to warn that the country would risk default – thereby plunging into recession – if Democrats and the White House continue to refuse to give in to Republican demands. The GOP position has recently been attacked by business leaders, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Typically a Republican ally, the business organization has said they will defend Republicans who vote to end the shutdown and avoid default from conservative primary challenges.
Dissent has also emerged within the Speaker’s own party, to the extent that an apparent majority of the House of Representatives – including 195 Democrats and 22 moderate Republicans – now seems to favor a “clean” continuing resolution that would end the shutdown with no Obamacare-related strings attached. Meanwhile, Democrats are preparing a legislative strategy of their own, employing a previously-introduced bill that could serve as a vehicle to end the shutdown in the next week, though uncertainty is high. Some highlights in coverage from around the web:
- Some science student projects have been interrupted by the shutdown (Nature).
- Wired spoke with one anonymous federal scientist about the impacts on biomedical research (also see Scientific American).
- Federal scientists are also prevented from participating in scientific meetings and symposia (Science Insider).
- Some radio telescopes are also being shut down (Discovery; see also this Space Politics post for a good roundup).
- Energy research has faired okay so far, but the clock is likely ticking (Earth Techling).