How's the partial federal government shutdown affecting you?

[cabanafrau]

The issue with that one is it won't work. Most of congress doesn't need the money. Most of congress could in fact posture even if there pay is on hold.

I'm not necessarily certain that's as true as we might believe. There have been a lot of members who have struggled to find affordable living in the DC area and attempted to crash in their offices. Are there incredibly wealthy legislators, certainly. But I think there's a representation of the normal middle income as well.

 

[mnrose]

I'm not necessarily certain that's as true as we might believe. There have been a lot of members who have struggled to find affordable living in the DC area and attempted to crash in their offices. Are there incredibly wealthy legislators, certainly. But I think there's a representation of the normal middle income as well.

And, somehow, the longer they are in Washington, the wealthier they get. Interesting.

 

[jsmith]

I would guess that some contracts fall under different things and just because they are on a military base does not mean they fall under the Dept of Defense? Honestly I have no clue how that all works. Just who is and isn't working. The only people working at dd's site is Navy and a few of the contract employees. At the Army training site close to where I live, a few weeks ago, the armed guards at the gates were civilians. Now they are army. Two women I know that work at that site in offices, are not working. I am not sure what they fall under.

I am a defense contractor-there are two kinds of DOD contracts-Firm Fixed Price which are front end funded for a period of time and Time and Materials which are pay as you go. FFP contractors who support what are considered to be essential DOD services are still working and getting paid, FFP contractors who support non-essential services are furloughed but may be back paided. TandM contractors who support essential services may be working without pay depending on the service. T and M contractors that are not considered essential are furloughed and will not be back paid. I would assume its largely the same for contractors across the government.

 

[jsmith]

But representing you could be different than representing me. Each "side" is trying to represent their base.

I think the problem is too complex to say no pay for congress or no reelection if a shutdown occurs. The solution basically boils down to compromise. This could have not even occurred if the house had actually voted (which would have mostly likely passed) on the bill passed by the Senate, instead of checking with the Executive branch first. Now the House has passed the same bill and the senate won't take it to a vote. This was/is a bi-partisan bill that will pass both chambers of congress. Pass it and put it on the President's desk. Depending on how the wind is blowing he may or may not sign it. Hard to tell until it's right in front of him.

The entire Congress needs to go home regardless of party. We are in this situation now and any shut down we have been in the last 10 years because they have failed to do their job. It is the job of the congress to establish a federal budget, negotiate that with the President for his signature and get it in place PRIOR to the start of a new fiscal year-it is one of their primary tasks. Continuing Resolution should be a measure for extraordinary circumstances only.
The last actual Federal Budget was passed for Fiscal 2008-we have been operating on an extraordinary measure for more than 10 years. That's crap-should never happen. No person who has served in Congress in the last 10 years should be reelected because they clearly don't care about their constituents. Its not a partisan thing-its a Congressional Thing. They basically handed Obama the power to Shut it down in 13 to get Obamacare passed and Trump the power to shut it down now over the wall-and he is inflexible and convinced that his is the only way-this may be very long and very painful.

 

[Christine]

But representing you could be different than representing me. Each "side" is trying to represent their base.

I think the problem is too complex to say no pay for congress or no reelection if a shutdown occurs. The solution basically boils down to compromise. This could have not even occurred if the house had actually voted (which would have mostly likely passed) on the bill passed by the Senate, instead of checking with the Executive branch first. Now the House has passed the same bill and the senate won't take it to a vote. This was/is a bi-partisan bill that will pass both chambers of congress. Pass it and put it on the President's desk. Depending on how the wind is blowing he may or may not sign it. Hard to tell until it's right in front of him.

I have posted this before but they need to be put in a situation where they are forced to compromise or their situation gets uncomfortable. It needs to be like picking a pope. Right before all the appropriations are due, they all need to go into a building and negotiate. They cannot go home, go on vacations, take leave, have a weekend break, etc. until a deal is done. The will have access to three meals a day and showers. When they go past a certain number of days, their meals need to be reduced. They don't leave until it's done. Period.

 

[Christine]

The issue with that one is it won't work. Most of congress doesn't need the money. Most of congress could in fact posture even if there pay is on hold.

We need to make them physically uncomfortable--see my post above.

 

[wvjules]

I have posted this before but they need to be put in a situation where they are forced to compromise or their situation gets uncomfortable. It needs to be like picking a pope. Right before all the appropriations are due, they all need to go into a building and negotiate. They cannot go home, go on vacations, take leave, have a weekend break, etc. until a deal is done. The will have access to three meals a day and showers. When they go past a certain number of days, their meals need to be reduced. They don't leave until it's done. Period.

I think that is a good idea. Also, no other legislation passed until the funding is passed. We should not continue to operate under perpetual CRs. An actual budget would be nice for a change!

 

[luvsJack]

I am a defense contractor-there are two kinds of DOD contracts-Firm Fixed Price which are front end funded for a period of time and Time and Materials which are pay as you go. FFP contractors who support what are considered to be essential DOD services are still working and getting paid, FFP contractors who support non-essential services are furloughed but may be back paided. TandM contractors who support essential services may be working without pay depending on the service. T and M contractors that are not considered essential are furloughed and will not be back paid. I would assume its largely the same for contractors across the government.

ahhh. Thank you! I wasn't sure how all of it worked.

 

[NFLDERS]

I feel like if ANY of us are affected, then ALL of us are affected. It would be impossible for me to say I'm not affected. I have felt strongly affected by all of the closures in the past and am more worried than ever about this one.

That said, I have yet to feel the impact of the closure directly in my daily life. My DH is DOD and is still being paid in this particular closure.

Exactly. I'm an empathetic Canadian, and when others are hurting because of the icredulous governing of their country, I am in solidarity affected.

 

[DopeyDame]

I think this shut down would end if the impact were actually felt by more people. Forcing government employees to work without pay is why this can drag on. I firmly believe that if the funding isn't provided, the agency should stop (with the possible exception of the DoD.)
You want to see this come to an end? Have the TSA and FAA shut down for even one day. Prevent the IRS from issuing refunds. \
Make it actually uncomfortable for citizens who use government services. The outcry would be enormous and a solution would be reached within hours.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

I think this shut down would end if the impact were actually felt by more people. Forcing government employees to work without pay is why this can drag on. I firmly believe that if the funding isn't provided, the agency should stop (with the possible exception of the DoD.)
You want to see this come to an end? Have the TSA and FAA shut down for even one day. Prevent the IRS from issuing refunds. \
Make it actually uncomfortable for citizens who use government services. The outcry would be enormous and a solution would be reached within hours.

You are probably right. It takes hurting the majority to get things done.

 

[jsmith]

I think this shut down would end if the impact were actually felt by more people. Forcing government employees to work without pay is why this can drag on. I firmly believe that if the funding isn't provided, the agency should stop (with the possible exception of the DoD.)
You want to see this come to an end? Have the TSA and FAA shut down for even one day. Prevent the IRS from issuing refunds. \
Make it actually uncomfortable for citizens who use government services. The outcry would be enormous and a solution would be reached within hours.

Actually I don't think so-one side is completely intractable and has convinced himself that the people support his action-he will continue to believe that regardless of what public outcry there is.

 

[AMW86]

The entire Congress needs to go home regardless of party. We are in this situation now and any shut down we have been in the last 10 years because they have failed to do their job. It is the job of the congress to establish a federal budget, negotiate that with the President for his signature and get it in place PRIOR to the start of a new fiscal year-it is one of their primary tasks. Continuing Resolution should be a measure for extraordinary circumstances only.
The last actual Federal Budget was passed for Fiscal 2008-we have been operating on an extraordinary measure for more than 10 years. That's crap-should never happen. No person who has served in Congress in the last 10 years should be reelected because they clearly don't care about their constituents. Its not a partisan thing-its a Congressional Thing. They basically handed Obama the power to Shut it down in 13 to get Obamacare passed and Trump the power to shut it down now over the wall-and he is inflexible and convinced that his is the only way-this may be very long and very painful.

Obama did not shut down the government to pass Obamacare. The Affordable Care Act was passed in 2010, three years before the shutdown. Congressional Republicans attempted to use the budget to completely defund the Affordable Care Act, which was already law.

I work for HHS. We are still running, and I am very grateful to be getting my paycheck on Friday. I am also grateful that I don't have to sit at home while piles of work accumulate on my desk. The pile is big enough as it is given the hiring freeze!

 

[jiminyC_fan]

Obama did not shut down the government to pass Obamacare. The Affordable Care Act was passed in 2010, three years before the shutdown. Congressional Republicans attempted to use the budget to completely defund the Affordable Care Act, which was already law.

I work for HHS. We are still running, and I am very grateful to be getting my paycheck on Friday. I am also grateful that I don't have to sit at home while piles of work accumulate on my desk. The pile is big enough as it is given the hiring freeze!

Exactly! That pile of work for the ones not working will be expected to get done ASAP when they go back to work. Plus, their typical daily work. They just can't win.

 

[RangerPooh]

The local news this morning reported that SNAP benefits would be distributed after all for February. I'm not sure how this is possible as they've been reporting for the last week that they had enough in reserves to only cover about 2/3 of those who receive them. Are they going to be reducing the amount that everyone receives in order to do so?

 

[wvjules]

FDA is stopping routine food inspections.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I read where the last shutdown cost the US economy $6.5 billion per day. That number is surely higher today. So, that’s probably at least $1 billion per day in lost federal tax revenue.

SMH

 

[DisneyHardin]

A friend of mine posted on Facebook today that she owns a rental property that takes Section 8 and she found out yesterday that she isn't going to get the rent money this month. That was something I wouldn't have even thought about.

 

[Searc]

FDA is stopping routine food inspections.

Yep, so if you eat, this shutdown affects you.

 

[cabanafrau]

FDA is stopping routine food inspections.

No big deal. I'm sure anyone with forethought either has a stockpile of food just for this type of contingency, or they grow their own.