Politics
Domestic and global challenges continue to hamper Obama agenda
U.S. President Barack Obama. PHOTO/File
President Barack Obama returned to Washington on Sunday after a brief summer vacation readying for what is expected to be a rocky autumn dominated by showdowns with Republicans.
Obama interrupted an eight-day break at exclusive Martha’s Vineyard last week to denounce the bloody crackdown in Cairo by Egypt’s military.
But the turmoil there, and the upcoming G20 summit in Russia early next month, are poised to take a backseat to the domestic agenda with Republicans threatening a government shutdown in October over the budget and debt ceiling.
Republicans hold a majority in the House of Representatives and retain a big enough minority in the Senate to potentially block any budget put before them before the start of the new fiscal year on October 1.
Without an agreement, the federal government could potentially be forced to shutter ‘non-essential’ administrative services such as passport and visa processing.
Since regaining control of the House in 2011, Republicans have repeatedly threatened a shutdown in confrontations with Obama before pulling back from the brink at the last minute.
This year however, a hardcore of Republicans have promised there will be no climb-down as they attempt to stymie implementation of a major part of Obama’s cherished healthcare reforms, which is due to take effect.
