American Citizens Services Town Hall cancelled after US gov’t shutdown
The United States Embassy in Jamaica has announced that the American Citizens Services Town Hall, scheduled for Friday in Montego Bay, St James, has been cancelled.
According to the US Embassy, in a social media post on Thursday, the cancellation is due to a lapse in appropriation.
This follows the US federal government shutdown on Wednesday after Republican and Democratic lawmakers failed to resolve a budget dispute that hinged on Democratic demands for health care funding.
READ: US govt shutdown begins after Congress fails to reach deal
At the centre of the standoff in Congress is a Democratic demand for an extension of health care subsidies that are due to expire — meaning sharply increased costs for millions of low-income Americans.
Republicans — who control the legislature and the White House but need Democratic votes on government funding bills — have announced no plans to address the issue.
Democrats are trying to force their hand by refusing to help the ruling Republicans fund the government.
