The House voted yesterday to fund the National Park Service as well as the National Institute of Health during the Government shutdown. The Senate will likely reject the bills.

The House also passed a bill allowing the District of Columbia to spend its own money in order to avoid what happened during the 1995 shutdown.

For more information about Congress' right to fund things one at a time, see #Shutdown Day 2.

Supposedly because of the Government shutdown the World War II Memorial was closed, barring the entrance of Veterans who had come all the way to DC to see the monument. When they reached it they found it barricaded against their entrance and Park Police guarding their way. The WWII momument is open air memorial, there was no real reason to close it off. When Republican Members of Congress learned what was happening they went and made sure the Veterans got into the memorial.  

The Republican National Committee has offered to pay to keep the Memorial open.

According to the House Committee on Natural Resources the Administration only ordered open air National Parks that are popular tourist attractions to be closed. Other open air parks have been left open to the public.

Many Conservative Organizations are pointing our the fact that Senate Majority leader Harry Reid stated; "Why would we want to [help a child with cancer]?" but they missed the larger part of the statement. Before he made this statement a member of the media asked him if he would accept the bill going through Congress to fund the National Institute of Health. He avoided a direct answer to the question and instead said,"What right does the House have to pick and choose what parts of the government to fund?" In this statement he not only plays on emotions, but also shows his contempt for the Constitution. 

The United States Constitution gives the House of Representatives the power of the purse, giving them enough power to hold back an out of control executive. The House therefore was given the right to select what to fund and what not to fund. As for funding the Government as has been pointed out previously, and as Harry Reid failed to point out; the House has compromised on the Continuing Resolution, it has been the Senate that has failed to compromise. The House went from a full defund of ObamaCare to only delaying one part of the Law, but still the Senate refused. Also, although the Republican leadership of the House of Representatives ask for negotiations with the Senate Democrats, the Senate refused. The House may not be totally willing to concede defeat, but at least they are willing to come to some middle ground.

Despite a meeting today the President and Democrats are still refusing to negotiate.

Watch Senator Reid's remarks here;

Last night after the second rejection by the Democrat led Senate, the Republican led House pulled another all-nighter attempting to avoid a government shutdown. The bill would have delayed the individual mandate of Obamacare and would have also block the Congressional exemption from Obamacare.  The bill was passed with 53% of the vote.  Nine Democrats joined the Republicans in supporting the measure: Representatives Barber, Barrow, Horsford, Maffei, Maloney, Matheson, McIntyre, Ruiz, and Sinema. Twelve Republicans joined the Democrats, either annoyed by the late nighter and continuous votes, or irritated at the watering down of the bill.  The Republicans were; Bachmann, Barton, Broun, Dent, Diaz-Balart, Gingrey, Gohmert, Granger, King, King (NY), and Massie. 

The bill was dead on arrival in the Senate, despite Republicans only scaling back the most unpopular parts of the law.  Senate Democrats, particular those in red states who are up for reelection next year, are caught supporting such things as the individual mandate and the exemption of Congressman. The Senate tabled the bill with a fully party line vote.  Every vulnerable Democrat went on record fully supporting Obamacare.

Harry Reid, President Obama and the Senate Democrats are forcing a government shutdown on the American people.  President Obama would rather negotiate with the leader of Iran than with the United States House of Representatives. 

Senator Reid said, "This is an unnecessary blow to America."  Despite his fancy language the first government shut down in 17 years is entirely his fault.

Welcome to Obamacare, America.  Today, despite the best attempts of Congressional Republicans and a government shutdown, Obamacare kicks into full gear.