- @
- Followers:
No Tweets Found
CNN POLITICS ON FACEBOOK » | CNN POLITICS ON TWITTER »
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.
On Twitter
A 6.4-magnitude earthquake has struck Afghanistan, according to the United States Geological Survey cnn.it/3yToTEi
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…
Zach Braff says his new movie, “A Good Person,” was heavily inspired by his ex-girlfriend, actress Florence Pucnn.it/3JYS9jGfj4B
Stormy got jokes. twitter.com/StormyDaniels/…
The US will deploy Patriot missile defense systems to Ukraine faster than originally planned, defense officials say
cnn.it/3JzWV5z
On Twitter
A 6.4-magnitude earthquake has struck Afghanistan, according to the United States Geological Survey cnn.it/3yToTEi
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…
Zach Braff says his new movie, “A Good Person,” was heavily inspired by his ex-girlfriend, actress Florence Pucnn.it/3JYS9jGfj4B
Stormy got jokes. twitter.com/StormyDaniels/…
The US will deploy Patriot missile defense systems to Ukraine faster than originally planned, defense officials say
cnn.it/3JzWV5z
@cnnbrk on Twitter
This is horrible!!! The people who supposedly run our government will still get paid, for their "service to the people of America". How can they get paid and expect people Americans like me who are in the military not to get paid? This is selfish and they are hypocrates! Some have said that they have bills to pay and need to get paid. What about us how need to get paid and have bills to be paid? Why should we have to suffer when they aren't and don't want too?
oh the Republicans are certainly good at being dumb.
says the ignorant socialist....
The graphic novel was better. Oh, I forgot Americans don't read something if there is already a movie version...
Read between the lines, right? I see how you did that.
Run for the hills!! Buy lots of guns!! Dont forget ammo!! Learn how to live off the land!!
Honestly I am a little annoyed with the fact that they won't issue any passports or visas. They would make it so no one can leave the US; they want to take every single one of us down then turn it into some sort of V for Vendetta bs. I honestly think all the government officials are at fault. I don't care about republicans or democrats alike. Hell I didn't even vote and I turned 18 when Obama was elected. Because look at the mess we're in because of your "faithful" leaders since world war two practically. It has been going down hill for a long long time. I got a suggestion though that the republicans probably won't like seeing as how they are old conservatives. How bout they all allow medical marijuana dispensaries in every state. They can't completely legalize it due to the fact it will be monopolized by the government (and let's face it they screw up everything they touch) they would put pestcides in it and make ppl sick making the believe pot is bad. But I guarantee ppl will pay for weed. I live in good ol' colorado where all the hippies and fresh mountain air hang. We have dispensaries and already our cities have money to set aside for budgets within the state. Why doesn't the whole country do it. I bet if it were just for medical purposes like the ones here we could get out of debt. Sales in building space went up significantly here. They pay their rent months ahead. Plus its weed, you can grow it any time (which is why the gov doesn't like it because they can't tax it and control it) but if its just left to the state and we keep it just criminalized versus completely legal...we could do this 🙂 plus it would make ppl healthier and happier. What more could we ask for...more $ more happiness. Sounds good to me :). – megantron
Why is it that our government was able to come up with the money for Libya (they said it came out of a separate Defense/Pentagon budget), but can't use this same budget to continue to pay our troops if the government shuts down? Because OIL, and the ties to it, are more important than our military. Sad, but true.
People need to stand up for their rights, we need to all march to washington and demand to know where all the tax payers money is going. And why does the president need to make $400,000 a year,as well as the fact that the country is "broke" how can we send millons in aide to other countries.WAKE UP AMERICA ITS ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE UNLESS WE ACT SWIFTLY NOW
Can we just END the FED – Run on the Banks??? Greedy Politicians paid off by the Corporations, The Banksters on Wall Street & the FED RESERVE(Group of Banksters) are responsible for this mess. They are going to destroy this country. But Jamie Dimon & his CHASE crooks still get their huge Bonuses 🙁
Here's the important thing everyone needs to know about a potential federal government shutdown, The Federal Reserve Banks WILL NOT SHUT DOWN. Why? Because they aren't federal at all !! It wasn't shut down during the federal shutdown in 1995 either. Look it up on the Wall Street Journal if you like. It's about as federal as the Federal Express.
What should we do to stop law maker's salaries too. I know we protest to get a bill signed or something, it won't be pased. But we as people in a democratic country should be able to do something to get this done.
Makes me want to move to Canada...
Please do, or at least try to. My bet is they won't accept you. Check it out and you'll find I'm right.
yea a people should not be afraid of its government, a government should be afraid of its people.
As of today US service members mid-month pay checks have already been slashed in half. These big wigs in DC are playing politics with people's lives.
A lot of you have be speaking of how our service men and women will get late pay checks. Are you all forgetting?
If your E6 you can knock up 3 different girls and have uncle sam pay your child support. Changes by rank.... Like I would support if you were married with the woman but what about all the wasted money because you have a rank you get child support for not wearing a rubber? Lets screw our 3 hoe's... I know of some troops who brag about all they have to do is say they have trouble sleeping then they get a free car payment each month for PostWarSyndrome... I have no sympathy for them if they loose out on a late paycheck, no one drafted them in service. Don't say they fight for our freedom because most Americans will agree our freedom isn't on the other side of the World. Also the benefits, I pay for more in taxes then they do, but they get better interests rates and healthcare then I? sounds like they have it pretty bad. They didn't sign up for fat camp. They signed up to be warriors so stop complaining about the wars and the deaths. Should you blame bush? or should you blame your brothers and sisters for being targets during a war? They weren't drafted, they chose to be in those environments.
You all got the change you can count on. Pretty sweet isn't. How you all like it?
P.S. I know they fight for our freedom, but in recent years our freedom doesn't reside in some sand filled, crap hole across the world
It's Friday! Friday! Gotta get down on Friday!
hahahaha.... way to bring some smiles to this board 🙂