US lawmakers from both parties are pointing the finger at one another as thousands of workers sit on unpaid leave and the shutdown continues with no end in sight.
Democrats have refused to back the Republican spending plan unless expiring healthcare subsidies which they say many working families rely on are renewed.
Republicans want Democrats to pass a short-term bill first and then they can discuss the subsidies.
We have asked six people what they think of the stalemate.
[BBC]
Misty Dennis, 49, Republican
This California voter is worried about the widespread impact of the shutdown on everyday Americans.
The Republicans have 53 votes, they need 60 to pass the measure. Is it that hard to come together over seven votes so that Americans aren’t being hurt?
If this continues on another week or two, the bottom line is Americans are being hurt, American citizens are being affected by this and somebody needs to do something to be the grown-up in the group.
I think sometimes legislators are so far away from us, the regular person living their lives, so they don’t remember what the struggle is like and I think they need to take that into consideration, especially if it’s 750,000 Americans that are not getting paid.
That’s a lot of Americans not getting paid, that’s a lot of Americans not putting their money back into the economy. Americans are just being hurt.
[BBC]
Denise Demontagnac, 22, Democrat
This Maryland voter recognises this shutdown will cause pain to many Americans, but she thinks it is a worthy political fight.
I’m nervous because there is no good outcome with the government being shut down.
I’m extremely nervous about what’s going to happen to low-income families, students who rely on federal scholarships and federal employees.
But this is a good fight for the Democrats to fight. Of course jobs are going to be cut, programmes are going to go without funding, which is so unfortunate but I don’t think that is blood that the Democratic Party would have on their hands.
I think it’s worth it to hold out, this is sending a powerful message to their constituents.
[BBC]
Punal Bhavsar 36, Democrat
This California voter is worried the Democrats lack strategy in their shutdown plan.
I don’t know if [Senate Democratic leader] Chuck Schumer has a game plan for an off-ramp to negotiations or how to get the party out of this.
I don’t know if the Democrats have a strong enough message to the American people on what they’re doing.
In terms of the social media messaging, the Republicans definitely have the upper hand. The messaging is not resounding on what Democrats are trying to do.
I’m already at a point where I’m kind of nervous because government shutdowns don’t help anyone.
I’m going to be fine, but for everyone else who depends on the government, who wants to go visit a National Park or museum, they’re going to be affected, if not now, then in the near future.
And that is unacceptable.
[BBC]
Jim Sullivan, 55, Republican
This is Indiana voter says Democrats are playing politics with everyday Americans and their livelihood.
This is typical politics. It is a continuing resolution they are trying to pass, that the Democrats don’t support.
Everyone’s calling it a Schumer shutdown, it’s not on the Republicans, it’s on Schumer, he’s doing it to remain relevant within his own party – in the meantime, everyone’s in the lurch.
I don’t see that this is going to end.
The real people are caught in the middle, and Democrats are willing to sacrifice those people. They’re not doing themselves any favours when they really hold up things like this
[BBC]
Trey Stewart, 27, Democrat
This Florida resident says Democrats’ strategy is a tough but necessary one and one that impacts his sister, who has been furloughed because of the shutdown.
Democrats’ strategy is a tough one, but unfortunately it is a necessary one.
They have not been able to do very much to slow or stop the current administration’s agenda.
I support their strategy, I support their reasoning for doing it.
Trump is a bully and if you give into a bully he’s going to ask for more, that’s how bullies work. So you have to stand up to a bully to make him realise you’re not going to give things up for free.
The point when it becomes too much is when the Democrats start losing the PR battle, if the narrative shifts to blaming the Democrats then it might be time to call it quits.
[BBC]
Rom Solene, 64, Republican
This Arizona resident is not directly impacted by the shutdown so he is ok with the shutdown lasting a while, if that is what it takes for Republicans to win.
I would think after the year that the Democrats have had, I would have thought that they would have gone along with the continuing resolution, at least temporarily.
I am all for what the Republicans are trying to do, I’m all for reducing government spending.
The Democrats have become so hateful of Trump, no matter what Trump proposes I think they would find cause to battle him.
I personally am not feeling the urgency that some Americans are, this doesn’t directly impact me.
What little we do dependent on the government – what it does provide for us – the shutdown is not going to impact us whatsoever.
