美國政府部分停擺

A partial shutdown of the U.S. government commenced early Saturday after a funding bill was blocked in the Senate. Spending authority expired at midnight Washington time, triggering a halt of non-essential functions.

Senators resume debate Saturday afternoon on a temporary spending bill that would fund the government through February 8. Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin, however, objects to the continuing series of temporary spending bills, saying it "simply kicks the can down the road and fails to get the job done for the American people."

On Friday, a handful of Republicans joined all but a few Democrats in opposing the funding bill, which needed three-fifths backing to advance in the 100-member chamber.

The outcome set off furious discussions among senators on and off the chamber floor, seeking a last-gasp bipartisan deal to restart the flow of federal funding.

The White House responded immediately to the failure to reach a funding agreement. It said in a statement that the Senate Democrats are "obstructionist losers" and blamed them for what it called the "Schumer Shutdown," accusing legislators of valuing illegal immigrants ahead of lawful Americans. The statement said "When Democrats start paying our armed forces and first responders we will reopen negotiations on immigration reform."爲美國聯邦政府撥款的臨時預算法案星期五未能在參議院通過，美國政府從星期六凌晨開始部分關閉。預算權限於華盛頓時間星期五午夜到期，非必要部門隨即關閉。

參議員星期六下午將繼續就一項臨時預算法案進行辯論。這項法案將爲聯邦政府提供運作到2月8號的資金。民主黨參議員鮑德恩反對不斷通過臨時預算法案的做法。他說，“這樣做只會把問題向後推，而不能爲美國人民解決問題”。

星期五，爲數不多的共和黨參議員和絕大多數民主黨參議員一起，投票反對通過撥款法案。通過這項法案需要總共有100個席位的參議院的五分之三多數通過。

表決之後很多參議員在會場內外繼續進行激烈討論，希望爭取兩黨達成一致，通過繼續向聯邦政府撥款的議案。

白宮對參議院未能通過撥款法案立即做出反應，指責參議院的民主黨人促成了它所說的“舒默式關閉”，並批評參議員對非法移民的關心勝於對合法的美國公民。白宮聲明說：“民主黨人開始向我們的軍隊和急救人員支付工資時，我們纔會重新談判移民改革。”