Federal Government To Shut Down 4-8-2011

[colporteur]

I received a phone call today from a friend that works for the Federal government. We have been monitoring the situation and knew it was a possibility. As of this Friday afternoon there is an official gov't shut down. While this has been threatened before it is a reality this time. The employees may not use vacation time or sick leave time for income. It is not known yet how long the shut down will be but for certain it will last a week and perhaps two weeks or more while the parties fight it out.

    A quick way to settle the supposed dispute would be to require the politicians to pay gov't employees from their own income while they play these games. Of course no such law exists and you can be sure it never will.

This is simply another way to penalize workers while the unemployed get regular stimulus checks and other hand outs. While there is a lot of waste in the federal gov't it is politicians rather than employees that govern how the funds are used or wasted.

[Mimi]

Today is Wednesday, noonish where I live. There is still time.

[LindaRS]

I don't think it was prevented. I remember the last time the government shut down. It lasted a couple of weeks.

[Mimi]

Yes, it appears it will happen. I hope it doesn't for the sake of those relying upon paychecks, such as my nephew in the military.

[Mimi]

Wow - a last minute agreement for short-term funding until a more permanent budget can be put in place.

Washington (CNN) -- President Barack Obama signed a short-term funding extension on Saturday hours after Democrats and Republicans narrowly averted a partial shutdown of the federal government by agreeing on the measure and a budget deal.

The new funding extension, which cuts spending by $2 billion, will last through next Friday, April 15.

The Senate immediately passed the extension on a voice vote. The House of Representatives followed suit early Saturday morning.

Administration and congressional officials made clear that there would be no lapses in government funding.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/04/09/congress.budget/index.html?hpt=T2

[Mimi]

The deal calls for $38.5 billion in spending cuts. No more $400 hammers?