Will the US govt face shutdown on October 1?

Washington, Sept 29: For the first time since 1996, the US government is heading for a possible shutdown in almost 20 years.

According to reports, nearly 2.1 milllion employess will be kept off work without pay. If the Democrats and the Republicans fail to reach an agreement by midnight on October 1, the federal government will shut down.

Majority Leader Harry Reid said that his Democratic-led chamber would reject any such bill that would alter the Health Care Act, also known as Obamacare law.

On Friday, President Barack Obama sternly warned the Congress on Friday against a government shutdown on October 1. "Over the next three days, House Republicans will have to decide whether to join the Senate and keep the government open or shut it down because they can't get their way on an issue that has nothing to do with the deficit," Obama said in a statement to reporters at the White House.

"To be absolutely clear, the Senate will reject both the one-year delay of the Affordable Care Act and the repeal of the medical device tax," Reid said.

The White House also said Obama would veto the bill.

"The American people will not be extorted by Tea Party anarchists," said an angry Reid, referring to the ultra-conservative faction of the Republican party.

He derided the House measure as "pointless" brinkmanship that could end in economic crisis.

The White House also said Obama would veto the bill.

The Senate, which is set to snub the bill passed by the Republicans is not scheduled to return until Monday afternoon, 10 hours before the shutdown deadline.

In US, government shutdown is a situation in which the government stops providing all but "essential" services.

OneIndia News

(With agency inputs)