本周將繼續審查總統巴拉克·奧巴馬簽名的醫療法，自從月初上線以來，其中很重要的部分因為技術問題遭到阻礙。
美國政府再次獲得了資金，這樣諸如國家動物園這樣的名勝景點得以重開。
“動物們想念你，人們想念你，我們需要你回來，”在國家動物園關門16天后，動物園主任鄧尼斯·凱利在歡迎遊客的致辭中如是說。
這次使得美國瀕臨債務違約的財政僵局也使整個國家轉移了對另一個問題的注意力：根據奧巴馬醫改法案推出的線上醫保市場。自從三周前啟動以來，該系統勉強運轉，許多保險購買者甚至無法建立帳戶。
“出現一個又一個死胡同，我不斷地找自己的保險在哪裡，它的成本是多少，”沮喪的奧巴馬醫改使用者丹·霍華德如是說。
本周晚些時候，共和黨控制的眾議院將調查這些故障。政府高級衛生官員凱薩琳·西貝利厄斯承認，即使是追蹤成功用戶的數量問題上也遇到了障礙。
“多少人已經登記了？我不能告訴你，因為我根本不知道，”西貝利厄斯最近在參加喬恩·斯圖爾特的每日脫口秀中說。
白宮發言人卡爾尼說，甚至總統奧巴馬也很沮喪。
“他對這個系統不滿意，要求每個人馬不停蹄地工作修復存在的問題。”
共和黨對奧巴馬醫改的反對是造成這場財政僵局的主要原因，這場僵局使得聯邦政府停擺，並面臨債務違約的風險。許多共和黨議員稱他們正在重估自己的策略，但會繼續反對該法。參議員特德·克魯茲是該法的首席批評家。
“我的關注點是，美國人民的關注點是：如何給那些因為奧巴馬醫改遭受傷害的人提供真正的援助。”
在對外事務上，總統奧巴馬將歡迎巴基斯坦總理納瓦茲·謝裡夫週三訪問白宮
This week will bring renewed scrutiny of President Barack Obama’s signature health care law, a key portion of which has been hobbled by technical glitches since going online at the beginning of the month.
The U.S. government is funded once again, allowing landmarks like the National Zoo to reopen.
“The animals have missed you, the people have missed you. We need you back,” remarked National Zoo director Dennis Kelly as he welcomed back visitors following a 16-day shutdown.
The fiscal impasse that sent America to the edge of a debt default also diverted the nation’s attention from another problem: the roll-out of online health insurance marketplaces created under the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare. Nearly three weeks since its launch, the system is barely functional, with many insurance shoppers unable to even create an account.
“It is just one dead end after the other. It is hour after hour after hour trying to find out where my insurance is and what it is going to cost,” said frustrated Obamacare user Dan Howard.
Later this week, the Republican-led House of Representatives will probe the glitches. The administration’s top health official, Kathleen Sebelius, has admitted problems in even tracking the number of successful users.
“How many enrolled? I cannot tell you, because I do not know," conceded Sebelius during a recent appearance on Jon Stewart’s Daily Show.
Frustrations extend to President Obama, according to White House Spokesman Jay Carney.
“He is not happy with it and has insisted that everybody work 24/7 (non-stop) to fix the problems that exist,” said Carney.
Republican opposition to Obamacare was a major driver of the fiscal impasse that halted federal operations and risked a debt default. Many Republican lawmakers say they are reassessing their tactics, but will not abandon the fight against the law. Among the initiative’s chief critics is Senator Ted Cruz.
“My focus is, I think, where the American people’s focus is: what are we doing to provide real relief to the people who are hurting because of Obamacare?” – said Cruz.
On foreign matters, President Obama will welcome Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to the White House Wednesday.
