Republicans and Democrats have made no significant progress is getting federal employees back to work and raising the debt limit.

U.S. Capitol
U.S. Capitol (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
loading...

A plan by Senate Democrats to increase the government's borrowing ability by $1 trillion is drawing little support from the GOP.

And the White House is threatening to veto a proposal by Republicans to create a working group to tackle deficit issues.

Poll: GOP gets the blame in shutdown

A new poll says Americans are holding Republicans primarily responsible for the partial government shutdown.

The Associated Press-GfK survey finds plenty of disdain to go around as people size up the federal impasse. Most now disapprove of the way President Barack Obama is handling his job. And Congress' approval rating is a perilous 5 percent.

Overall, Republicans are taking the bigger hit in public opinion. In the poll, 63 percent say Republicans deserve a lot of the blame. About half say Obama or the Democrats in Congress are largely responsible.

The poll finds that the tea party is a significant influence among Republicans as well as a source of division. Forty-one percent of Republicans identified themselves as tea party supporters and they want GOP leaders in Congress to stand firm.

VA secretary: Shutdown could hit millions of vets

President Barack Obama speaks during a press conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House
President Barack Obama speaks during a press conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
loading...

Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki is spelling out some of the dire consequences for veterans of a long-term government shutdown, with about 3.8 million veterans not getting a disability check next month if the shutdown continues into late October.

Shinseki says some 315,000 veterans and 202,000 surviving spouses and dependents would also see pension payments stopped.

In all, more than $6 billion in payments would be halted with an extended shutdown.

Shinseki is set to testify today before the House Committee on Veterans Affairs. The Associated Press obtained a copy of his written testimony.

In some areas, like health care delivery, there are fewer adverse effects. Congress provided funding for VA's health services a year in advance, so veterans can continue getting care at hospitals and clinics.


(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved)e

More From WPG Talk Radio 95.5 FM