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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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RT @Declaracion: A major #earthquake measuring at least 7.7 on the Richter scale has occurred in South Asia. 1. Remain calm. 2. Follow the…
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Stormy got jokes. twitter.com/StormyDaniels/…
The US will deploy Patriot missile defense systems to Ukraine faster than originally planned, defense officials say
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New images released by astronomers who used the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope in Chile reveatwitter.com/i/web/status/1…OK95
@cnnbrk on Twitter
ohhh yah lets blame Obama...blame the colored one just like old times....nobody wants to talk abut bush govt and what they did...if Obama has spent more money its because he is dealing with a messed up situation. Conservatives always find a way to blame him without considering what happened in the past can you be grown up and realistic...he didnt create this and cant fix it in 4 years
NOONE TALKS ABOUT THE BUSH PRESIDENCY! That's hilarious, all Dems do IS blame Bush. Obama's been in office for 2+ years, time to be held accountable.
You really need to stop reading the liberal hand book of lies. It makes you look pathetic.
no one is saying anything about him being black. You should not take offense to politics or peoples stance on how this country is being run. Freedom of speech that is why e live in this great country. Both parties have their own issues and 4 years is plenty of time to fix the issues its called living in your means and not spending your way out of debt. I'm just saying!
Really?
Padruso, do you really think everyone's "blaming Obama" because he's colored (sic)? Just like the old days huh...ahem...you know he was elected PRESIDENT right? Yeah, just like the old days. Get over it man...maybe things aren't completely changed, but I think the fact that a colored man (as you write) was elected President is enough testament to the changing racial dynamics in this country. Save but for a small minority, I'm sure those who disagree with the president do so for political reasons, not racial. You sound like an out-dated whiner.
I should have to pay my fedarel tax on my pay check if theirs no gov to pay it to
You know, Jesse Ventura said that very thing this morning. He did a phone interview where he suggested we not have taxes withheld during any government downtime.
Its ok, who needs money? I can go and get some branches out of the woods to make a fire. I am sure my daughter is fine without food because we belong to the lucky military family circle which will not get paid. Its fine ...i know we should have a big savings account ...but for some reason it is hard to take money out of the $3.47 an hour my hubby gets paid to get shut at. As long as we have Trump and Palin in the game of politics I can feel safe and my look into the future is bright!!!! For some reason i start to believe that the end will come in 2012...but again, watching all the survivor shows did prepare me to survive in my back yard.
The amazing ignorance of this country is fascinating...apparently it is more important to find out if Obama was born in America then to make sure that this country has the skill to feed its people. But I do believe in miracles ..one day Trump will cut his hair and Palin will find brains...and with that ,the rest of the Washington clique will all get smarter and quit their jobs..
You should have been more responsible than having a child and apparently only one income where your husband makes "$3.75/hr".
Seriously? The dollar amount is based on being on duty 24/7/365. It does break down to that small figure, even with benefits as even post housing is considered income and taxable now.
At least Sallie Mae will still be operating... god knows any organization that collects money is undoubtedly considered "essential."
This may be a dumb question, but if the shutdown occurs – would things like the stattue of liberty/Ellis Island be closed as well? I have a trip planned to NYC next week...
If Ellis Island is administered by the Federal Government, then you should begin considering alternatives elsewhere in New York. Perhaps you could visit some non-government museums in NY.
If these idiots can't come up with a budget they don't deserve to be in office. Shut it down, maybe that will help the budget by saving some money.
At this point I say if they can't make a decision get rid of them. Have the American people decide for themselves. Put two options out there without party affiliation attached and make the country vote. We placed these idiots in there to be the voice for us, to represent us and thus far they haven't voiced anything I want to hear. This may be the last term in office for them all.
The GOP pounded that Govm't did not create jobs. Look at the direct employees that spend in local economies, look at the small businesses who get cobtracts and employ trade jobs who spend in the local economies. Now hopefully people see the conection between Gov & a lot of jobs
Its funny how other countries rise up against their corrupt government but we freedom fighters take whatever lashing they whip at us. America was once a great country but now we are ruled by the very companies we pay services to.
All the Senators and Representatives should go without a paycheck until the budget it balanced, end of discussion. We've had to cut way back at our household, the government should do the same. As far as the Pres taking another weekend vacation/break, where are his priorities? It's not with the US or the people. If there was a crisis at work, I most certainly wouldn't be able to leave until it was resolved and that includes working 16-18 hour days (salary, no overtime) and weekends.
Someone in the office suggested taking away the big wages from these congressmen and pay them minimum wage, have them pay for their own insurance or better still go on medicare. Just to see what they will be subjecting us with. It is time to think of the people who placed you there, (AND WHO CAN REMOVE YOU IN THE NEXT ELECTION). If you are truly serious about getting a budget passed, tackle the true issues. Sorry to say there seems to be more that Abortion, and Healthcare that is preventing this from coming to pass. Stop funding Big corporations, Lining the pockets of Insurance companies and Banks. They are doing nothing to help the people. In order for my insurance company to cover any of my cost I have to meet my deductible of 9K/year, however I still have payroll deductions taken out to cover what? to have the pleasure of showing my Insurance card to the doctor and wait for the bill in order to pay it myself.. Come on people make these people start working for us, Gov't is getting too big. And with each new appointment comes more cost.
If the Dem House and the Dem Senate and the Dem President would have just passed a budget LAST YEAR LIKE THEY SHOULD HAVE, instead of just punting to avoid taking a stand before elections, we wouldn't be where we are(n't) today.
And I understand basically what is holding this up now is Repubs trying to put some abortion language in a budget bill, where it really has no place. Take that language out, address it where it should be addressed, and let's move on.
And, by the way, when I say "move on", I mean let's MOVE. WE. HAVE. GOT. TO. SLASH. OUR. SPENDING!!!!! How can people view it as being radical to try to cut $60 billion from the budget, but not view it as obscene to be spending over A TRILLION dollars PER YEAR now, that we do not have?? It's not just obscene. It's criminal.
People complaining about a proposed $60 billion haircut are going to be very sorely and rudely awakened when we're going to have to cut 20x that much. And people complaining about government services being temporarily shut down til a budget deal is reached are going to have a heart attack when services get shut down permanently because we're just flat out broke.
The abortion issue is not in the GOP bill; only federal financing of abortions. The eugenic pushing "Family Planning" bunch should never have been funded by the tax payer, nor should public broadcasting be funded by the tax payer.
If that's the problem, then there is a whole lot of ignorant Congressmen running around. The Hyde Amendment already bans federal financing of abortions. Scary, the morons who are supposed to make laws...don't even know what laws exist already.
F- the Government!!! I'm sick of this sh–. These da– politicians will still get a paycheck while our soldiers and their families have to go without. F- that! This country sucks!
Agree – the most annoying thing for me in all of this is the fact that Congress could get paid – they are the one group that should NOT get paid and should be precluded from getting back pay post shut down even if the Fed rank & file get it. It is a whole separate issue but Congress exempts themselves from things they impose on us like SS, Obama Care and others. Congress should be in the same boat they put us in.
The panic conveyed in this article is hilarious. The government may shut down, but reading this they act like it will be shut down for months. I would be shocked if it shuts down more than a couple weeks. Everyone settle down, relax. Vacations will not be ruined. Tax returns will get processed.
Ha! This article proved that the government shutting down would not affect me, or most people, in the slightest. How funny that CNN feels like they need to carry water for Capital Hill.
The most disappointing part of this discussion board is the amount (almost every single post) of personal bashing. Why do you all insist on calling each other names and tearing each other down? Both the GOP and the DEMs are doing the same thing instead of focusing on the issue and working toward a solution.
And the worst part of all this ... YOU ALL voted them into the office they hold. If the government shuts down, it's their fault for following your example and bickering rather than working on a solution, and it's YOUR fault for putting them there.
Hangman, It is dissapointing !!! I didnt vote any new republicans in office but those that did are Morons, My opinion but it is my opinion and im sticking to it.
I am in complete shock that Congress gets paid while our Troops who are risking their lives for us will not recieve pay. Their poor families! Congress should not get a PENNY of their pay!! They do not deserve it!
they arnt risking their lives for us, but for the wimps in the other countries that cant defend themselves, thats why were in this mess (partially) if we stayed at home and minded our own bussiness, things would be better for us. its time to take care of our own, not those sand rats.
harry- you are a disgusting and sad excuse for not only a man and a human but an American citizen. How dare you say that our military men and women do not risk their lives. I think we should ship you over seas and put you right in the middle of the war just because you are such an idiot; you would NEVER make it out alive.
Harry, have you ever stood up for one of these "defenseless" countries by volunteering in the Peace Corps, or working for the UN? Perhaps I am being a bit presumptuous here, but I am guessing the honest answer is "No".
Ash, read slowly and perahps multiple times before you post.........
I agree with you Shocked....but as for Harry – one thing you should know is that when our service men and women commission into the military they take an oath. An oath that states "...that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter..." and that includes helping those that cannot help themselves. Be blessed that we live in a country in which we have people willing to stand up for what is right outside our own nation. EVEN if our nation has issues at least we have rights and people who ARE trying to do what's best for our Country. so lay off the MILITARY fighting for their lives and the lives of others.
"ditto"