Deal on budget prevents US govt shutdown

NEW YORK, Apr 09: The United States, the largest economy in the world, extricated itself from the embarrassing situation of federal government shutdown with Republicans, Democrats and the White House scrambling late last evening to salvage the sinking ship with a budget deal that would slash $38 billion from this year's budget. This is a lesson for countries under democratic dispensation that not a penny of government money could be spent without the approval of the legislature. The impasse had threatened to bring to a grinding halt the government operations both at home and abroad. The new budget measures would not cut spending on environmental regulations, restrict planned parenthood and other groups that provide abortions as sought by the Republicans. Speaking after the deal President Obama said that some of cuts will be painful. Needed infrastructure projects will be delayed, he said. The House Speaker John Boehner said Republicans fought hard to keep government spending down. The deal was clinched at 11:20 p.m. 40 minutes ahead of the deadline. The office of management and budget sighed relief saying normal government operations are back on track. The State Department, in the meanwhile, in its annual report on Human Rights yesterday expressed concern over deteriorating human right conditions in countries like Saudi, Arab, Pakistan, Bahrain and Yemen all close allies of Washington. Continuous restrictions of political freedom, widespread abuses by police and security forces against opponents of the government has become widespread. Societies flourish when they address human right problems instead of suppressing them, secretary of state Hillary Clinton said as she unveiled the report. Freedom for fear makes economies grow as citizens invest, innovate and participate, she said. The State Department annual report on Human Rights cover 194 countries. Hillary Clinton singled out countries with which United States is at odds. She attacked Cuba, China, Venezuela, Russia, Iran and Myanmar for the negative records. mumtazk43@juno.com