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That family trip to the Grand Canyon could be in jeopardy if Congress and the White House fail to reach a budget agreement.
April 7th, 2011
07:48 PM ET
10 things that could ruin your day if the government shuts down
The list of collateral effects of a potential government shutdown keeps growing and people are none too pleased about it. Here are just a few of the negative impacts that could arise if Congress and the White House fail to reach an agreement on the budget (click here to view in chart form):
- The lawmakers who hold the cards will still get paid. Their staffers might be furloughed, though. That has prompted a few lawmakers to announce they'll refuse shutdown pay,but even that has elicited critiques of political posturing.
- Roughly 800,000 federal workers won't get paid because they're considered nonessential and therefore, the first to be furloughed. That includes people who work in national parks because they'll be closed, ruining countless long family road trips. And it's not just the loss of income that hurts - for many, it's being labeled dispensable when they know their jobs are anything but nonessential.
- What happened to all that talk of helping small businesses? Many government contractors are just that. We're talking about IT firms and software companies, to name a few, who may be sent home as well.
- If the government shuts down for an extended period of time, the Department of Defense says troops, including those serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, may not be paid on time. Troops are guaranteed back-pay but the pinch will be more immediate for military families at home, who may be forced to choose between food and rent if they don't know when to expect a check in the mail.
- In the District, trash pickup will be suspended in the event of a government shutdown. In response, some enterprising Facebookers have proposed a solution: "If Boehner shuts down the government I am taking my trash to his house." In addition to trash pickup, the nation's capitol stands to miss out on another cherished tradition: this weekend's Cherry Blossom Festival.
- As the shutdown looms, some political leaders are taking the opportunity to fundraise and rally their supporters. The executive director of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee sent out an appeal asking for a minimum $5 donation saying the organization wants to raise $100,000 in the next 36 hours.
- Numerous services administered by the federal government will come to a halt. That means no new approvals of loans by the Federal Housing Administration or the Small Business Administration; no IRS processing of paper tax returns or refunds; no issuing of regular passports or visas (emergency visas and passports will be processed). In fact, anything that requires permits probably will not be processed.
- You'll still get your Social Security checks but don't expect anyone to be around to answer your questions about benefits. The people who take questions on Social Security and Medicare questions will not be at work and most government websites will shut down or have limited functionality.
- Various agencies with the Department of Health and Human Services will operate in a patchwork fashion. The National Institutes of Health will not accept new patients or start new clinical trials. The Food and Drug Administration won't operate at full capacity but will have some inspectors on staff. As a result, all FDA inspections of food processing facilities and drug manufacturing plants will be prioritized by risk.
- Word is getting around that a government shutdown doesn't actually save taxpayers money. For one, it will cost the government money to ensure a smooth transition to a shutdown. Then there's the lost revenue from a variety of sources, from government services to gift shops in government-run attractions such as Yosemite National Park and DC's National Gallery of Art.
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A shutdown will do nothing but ruin an already fragile situation. I guess none of you like the clean water you drink, or want the family's of our troops to be able to feed their kids. O and lets forget the people who actually need the help the government provides. Yes, the government is being run by self-absorbed, greedy, pathetic little men an women who only want whats best for them, but this is not the way to work that out. Useless democrat cowards, and pathetic minded, intellectual lacking, republi-cons is all we have. Not to mention the rest of you useless sheep.
And your solution is???? Oh. name calling.
If these people are really non-essential, maybe the government shouldn't have created the jobs in the first place. Thats one of the many reasons we have a debt problem – non-essentials.
1
Seriously? Wow...the definition of "non-essential" is not "a monkey could do your job" or "we have 3 people doing the same thing"! It means that if we have to run on a skeleton crew, who are the people that absolutely have to be here for security, life safety, and to be thee to call everyone back to work?
Seriously, if you would like to say something mildly intelligent, please share...otherwise, if you don't know what you are talking about, please hold your tongue.
Self correcting typo alert:
'and to be thee to call everyone back to work? " should read:
"and to be there to call everyone back to work?"
My apologies to the spelling police.
I guess hiding behind a keyboard and basing information on hearsay and jargon makes one ignorant to reality. I am a government employee and although this shut down will not effect me; I have friends that will have to choose between rent and food. You see this perception that we make a lot of money is just absurd. Most of us have zero savings and make enough to pay our bills. Not to mention, most of us had to pay for an education to get our government jobs. So the fact of the matter is "non essential" to you, means jealousy... "non essential" to a government employee, means they may not be able to buy groceries for their children. Now I would never wish that upon you or any other person on this planet. So I would suggest you think twice about wishing harm or despair on someone that has absolutely nothing to do with your hate of what is going on. Because my friend Karma is a bear!!!
seriously, none of this affects me or anybody else I know. if the bloated goverment shuts down I see that as a good thing. I would think the parks might be a big deal if it was summertime. What a bunch of hooey this is. I say shut it down if the trolls won't stop spending money we don't have.
> Switzerland
Did anyone ever notice Federal employees and their families (including Congress and their families) can qualify to Student Loan forgivness up to $10K per year with a max of $60K???? Since when should gov't employees qualify for items not even private sector employees can benefit from???
Politicians and Bankers have created a new social class above that of US Citizens. Wake up America!!!
Really? As a Federal Employee I wasn't aware of this! Where can I sign up! I'm sure, in no way you're exaggerating or making things up...
As a federal employee I can state this is a complete lie.
As a federal employee I can state this is a complete lie. I should say as a federal employee with student loans I've been paying on for years and will continue to be paying for, for many years to come.
Yeah..he is right. There is a program available. He is wrong about the amount. The cap(for most) is $5K a year and many federal agencies stipulate that you have to stay with them for 2 to 3 years to participte in the program. As a bonus, you will get audited to be sure that you used it for it's purpose. if you don't you or if you leave before your agreed time is up, will have to pay it all back. I'll take the 5K to help pay off my 80K(including interest) student loans. Which would take me approx 3 years of my salary to pay back. My Masters got me the job I have..
Go drink some more of the GOP kool-aid, get your facts straight before you open your mouth and quit parroting what other people say.
Now we know why BOTH of you are Federal Employees...too stupid and ignorant to last in the private sector. Good luck on the unemployment line.
Do yourselves a favor and find the programs and ask why Congress can participate in this program...AND YOU CANT!!!
Cool. I want know where as a federal employee I can sign up for these benefits.
Tim...all I can say is.. "wow". I'm feeling your hate and anger.
Now if you will excuse me, this Federal employee (who pays taxes just like you do) is going to bed.
@ Guest acually it is senate and congress have their children and family school paid for. Are you in the house or senate?
Don't worry about Tim. He's just bitter. I wonder if he wasn't able to get a federal job or got fired from it.....
Read the law, it applies to ALL government (local, county, state, and federal) employees. Get your facts straight. Give up your private salary and go work as a social worker/police officer/health clinic nurse/public defender/etc, maybe then you will see why they passed this law.
Please share this information, I would like to apply for back pay. Since I had to pay for my own education....just to get a promotion. Seriously, I would like this information please.
Thank you Tim for the infomation about the student loans.
@navy – Listen, just because you CHOSE what you thought was a safe guarnteed job (IN THE NAVY) AND chose to have children while in the NAVY isnt our fault. There are no guarentees and welcome to what its like in the private sector...where AMERICA was BUILT!!!
Live within your MEANS and prepare for the worst. In REAL LIFE everyone needs to live within their means.
As a Federal Employee who KNEW of this, it's only for a certain few areas, and only if the agency allows it. Most agencies don't, because they don't have the budget. And, you have to work for the GOV for a few years minimum or risk repayment, and they can cap it. Get your facts straight, and stop drinking koolaid of a half truths and outright lies.
As someone who works in student loans. There is a program that is offered for government employees to have a portion of student loans forgiven, but most agencies are not able to do so due to lack of money. Now, there are other programs offered by the Department of Education that helps low, middle, and upper class persons with student loans. I am not in any way defending the federal government for their lack of responsility to help us and our government, however I will defend the fact that there is no program for student loan forgiveness offered to higher paid employees that is not the same or equal to the programs that are offered to lowered middle class americans with student loans. On another note, any person that does a public service can get a great reduction but only after 10 consecutive years of repayment (meaning no breaks in payment or late payments).
I understand everyone's frustration and ability to point fingers, but the fact of the matter is the economy has been on downward spiral for years and we Americans have survived it thus far. I don't care who's fault it is. It affects each and every one of us in one way or another. All I care is that it is fixed. I don't know how. That is not what I get paid to do. But Congress does. So do your jobs and get this settled before we, the people, act out more than just with words.
Military wont get paid...the ones who are over in Iraq and Afghanistan wont get paid. The ones that are giving their all for their country wont get paid. BUT congress will get paid! Congress is playing with our lives and they couldn't care less as long as they get their way and can blame one party or another. Mean while somebody's son or daughter, husband or wife, brother or sister is going through what none of you can imagine just to be told "we are turning our back on you. We don't care that you have a young child at home and depending on that pay check to buy diapers and formula." But they will drive home at the end of the day in their BMW's and sleep in their king size bed in their 4,000 sq ft home and not have to worry about how to make ends meet until this "disagreement on the budget" is settled.
Take this in context but no offense, but unless you're a mercinary, joining the military shouldn't be about the money. Further, no one said they had to join the military. There is no war and there is no enemy invading the US. Its all smoke and mirrors and the US military is simply now the "enforcement arm" of big international bankers who want to us the US military to gain control of foreign oil.
We do have a volunteer military correct!? There is no current draft that I know of, I am pretty tired of being told that these "brave" men and women are fighting for my freedom, when tomorrow if all of them were to be pulled out of Afghanistan, Iraq, LIBYA, South Korea, Germany, Italy, etc. I would still be free, and would continue to be free. Honestly, I get sick of hearing about how important it is to baby our veterans when in reality, if you have fought in a war after Vietnam, it was all on you! You joined the military, now you expect me to feel sorry for you cause you are being shot at? get a clue!
Tim....your an idiot. So just because I joined the military I shouldn't get paid? This is my job and I enjoy doing it but if I am not bringing in a paycheck who is going to provide my three year old son with food? with somewhere to live? with heat in the winter time?
@ Navy – Then get a new job. Leave the Navy because clearly that job is no longer secure enough for you to raise your family. Remember there was NO DRAFT and no one forced you to join the Navy.
@Tim...just leave the military...hahaha. Once you're in you're in until your contract is up.
@SIT...maybe tomorrow is OK if there is no military and maybe next year you're still free. But at some point someone will realize no one is watching over you at night and they will come and you and I will lose our freedom. Or maybe you'll protect us all??
Sit, last time i checked every job is a "volunteer" job. Nobody made you work where you work, nobody held a gun to your head and said you have to flip burgers or anything else. The fact is that we have to have a military and if it wasn't for brave men and women stepping up every single day and choosing to make the sacrifice necessary to ensure our way of life stays intact, then the draft would have to come back and then people like you would run from it and move to another country because you are scared. I might biased because i currently serve but for a putrid piece of dog crap to take your "freedom" for granted and doubt the importance o our military makes me sick to my stomach. I would love to see you go overseas and fight in the war and not be upset that you won't be getting paid.
The military WILL get paid if the house and senate can pass the Ensuring Pay for Our Military Act. This bill is gaining momentum in the Senate. Look it up, write your Congress member. Generally in shut downs the government grants an exception like this to the military for the very reasons you're all speaking of.
Yet more liberal-leaning garbage on this site. I'm an independent voter, and I'm sorry, but if those on the left don't see the writing on the wall re: this country's financial future, then they are either blind or just willfully ignorant. BOTH parties got us here, and they BOTH should be making aggressive cuts in spending...not just the Republicans. Why is this fight even taking place for Pete's sake? Cut as much as possible...my household certainly has.
I agree ... it would be seriously welcome to see our government make the types of cuts that many of us have made in our own finances, and let the BS come to an end. We are gagging on the pork of a thousand earmarks ...
You could solve 80% of the nations problems if lobbyists were forbidden to give money to elected officials or their party.
Does Jay Leno having a show fall in that 80%? That's a big problem, if you ask me.
Enough! Democrats... Republicans??? All in high site stop the blame game and do something constructive, like passing a budget. Please, let's stop bickering among ourselves. We need to take care of each other more than ever. Please?
Oh, here we go...the meek and mild Dems and the scary Republicans. What about Grandma and the Children? Oh and how will the Easter Bunny survive such a shutdown. Oh me oh my. Henny Penny is running the country. Give me a break. Oooh, here comes Y2K. Run for the hills! Such BS. So over it.
The Y2K thing passed without any real glitches. Are you still in your bunker? Sorry, we should have told you sooner.
Nice to know that people don't value us troops. We die for y'all, and we get disrespect? Awesome. Glad to know my life doesn't matter, nor the life of my future wife, or the thousands that I personally know. Amazing.
Jeez. You must have a pretty crowded facebook. Mine only has like 304.
You meet a lot of people during the time you serve. It's... Interesting.
First off PFC, thank you for your service, but your comment is a bit melodramatic dontcha think? I'm a vet myself, and I think it's a safe bet that the vast majority of Americans support you and the rest of the troops. There is only ONE thing that personally irks me about the potential shutdown, and that's possible delays in military pay. I think most folks hope they work this out so that members of the military don't suffer any hardships.
I value troops. But I can also think for myself. Right now the US military is nothing more than a mercinary force for International Bankers intent on securing middle eastern oil.
Where will soldiers be when the REAL enemy BANKERS are illegally seizing homes of REAL US CITIZENS????
PFC, that's why military are like family. Civilians just don't get it. We all tend to stick together.
@MonkeyL – Then clearly you are an idiot. Typical of a govt employee.
Try Googling it you dope...its available through the Studen Loan Administrator.
Yep – it sounds a lot like a tuition reimbursement you'd get from any of a number of Fortune 500 companies (I work for one, so I'm familiar with the concept). So what's your point again?
Clearly Tim you are the dope. You keep talking BS on this subject and it is quite obvious you know very little, if anything, about it. You can Google anything but it doesn't mean that the information retrieved there is correct. This is something you learn in basic education classes in college. I work with student loans daily and most of the programs are set up for middle and low class families to help pay student loans. Almost every program is based on income and the less you make the more beneficial these programs are for you.
As for our military. I don't always agree with the reasons why we are fighting but I do think that these brave men and women deserve the up most respect. It may be voluntary to enter the military, but it takes a lot of courage to do what they do. I couldn't do what they do. Would you put your life on the line for your country? Probably not. Either way, your ridiculous attempt to make a point has become an epic fail!!! Bottom line is that every is to blame. As a country, we have made it this far through the economic crisis and I believe that Congress will do their jobs and pass this budget. Unless you have a logical solution to this problem, it is a waste of your time opening your mouth.
If the "Tea Party & Republicans" want to cut spending why not cut all the salaries of all of the Congress, and Senate in DC They offer nothing to so many .How can these people who are to serve the 'PEOPLE' allow this shutdown to happen This is a budget that was to be starting 10-1-2010. If that was done in private industry the Chief FINANCIAL OFFICER WOULD BE FIRED. How can they take their pay when they cannot get a budget that is 6 months past due. They are NOT Doing their jobs . 1 week here, 2 weeks there does not allow a properly functioning governement,
1.2 huh ??? Your forgetting a few MILLION there buddy. You are saying all american military, politicians, teachers, parks & rec workers, building officials, police officers, state & federal medical, sheriffs, on & on... Total 1.2 million. Go back to your coloring book. I'm not a statistician and my numbers aren't exact but there pretty close, here's another for you 20% unemployed. You must work for the treasonous bunch, you probably belive radiation is good for you, go get some!
Your a piece of garbage buddy. One day, when your life is on the line and your on the brink of death my someone else's hand? Your going to WISH a soldier was there to save your skin.
Well, as a federal worker that works for a Working Capital Fund, I'll be working with no idea of when I will get paid. Sure, I'm lucky to have a job... but working without pay isn't so hot, either.