Government Reopens; Indian Country Still Sequestered - ICTMN.com

20.10.13

Government Reopens; Indian Country Still Sequestered - ICTMN.com: Furloughed federal workers, including thousands who work in Indian-focused areas, began returning to work hours after President Barack Obama signed into law the congressional deal. Back pay will be provided to them for their missed days of work.

The stalemate, which cost at least $24 billion dollars, highlights a growing rift in the Republican Party between hardline tea party conservatives who want to dramatically cut federal spending and more traditional conservatives who are willing to bargain for policies that serve the country’s economic interests.

“I don’t think shutting down the government is ever an appropriate political tactic, and my view on that hasn’t changed,” U.S. Rep. Tom Cole (R-Oklahoma), deputy House whip, told NPR October 14. He pointed to polling that showed the country widely blamed Republicans for the shutdown.