Terminalcoffee discussion

I have friends in DC whose workplaces are preparing for the shutdown. This is not a good thing.

If the White House and Congress don't agree on a budget by this weekend, the whole government gets shut down. There are big fights and compromises and negotiations being discussed, but

"Because of Senate rules, Democrats could be forced to break two GOP filibusters in order to pass a spending bill, and each vote requires a 30-hour delay. Government funding expires on Friday night, meaning that if negotiators don't reach a deal by the end of today or early tomorrow, just one Republican senator could stall the vote until the deadline arrives.

If the talks Tuesday between House Republicans and the White House are any guide, the two parties are a long way from a deal."

Essential personnel still report. At Peace Corps, for example, the safety and health staff will still go to work so that they can react to the emergencies of those in the field, but everyone else will have a forced vacation.

Would I like to see this happen? No.

Will it happen? Probably. Because the Republicans didn't learn their lesson from the last time they forced a government shutdown.

I will admit, I am afraid for this shut down. My spouse is in the Air Nat'l Guard, and he has been told that if the shut down happens, he is simply on an unpaid leave. I don't work (I was laid off, so I am now a full time student) so that leaves us with bills that do not stop and no money coming in. However, his 12th schedule deployment to the desert will still go as planned. I had made an angry off the cuff comment to him, along the lines of 'the war(s) go on, but those who fight them are on their own'. Maybe that was unfair, but I am angry, scared, and beyond disgusted with even the threat of a shut down. Hell yes, I am taking this seriously.

I simply am frustrated with both parties right now. Sometimes it feels like the pols are playing tug of war with this country, and the citizens have to suffer for their power play.

Thanks for the venting time. :(

O_o Wow. How does the government come back?

Here's a decent little piece about the process and what is affected: http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/federal...

I think that I may agree with Dutch on this one. If it does happen it'll be over quickly.

Brooke Baldwin on CNN told me that Reid and Boehner (sp?) were meeting at 4PM eastern.

Brooke Baldwin has great arms.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_j3ghDlwSxls/TOd...

She has nice arms but she looks like a Baldwin-bot in that picture.

Hmm. If the shutdown happens, will my tax return/refund not get processed?

I suspect there will be a shutdown. It certainly seems like neither side is prepared to blink.

Barb wrote: "But what does it lead to for you guys? How long does the government shut down, and what needs to happen for it to start back up again?"

No one knows how long it shuts down for; it remains "shut" until Congress agrees on a budget. What's been happening since December is stop-gap funding, rather than a real budget. They could do more stop-gap funding, but both sides have said they don't want to do that.

The longest government shutdown was 3 weeks, back during the Clinton administration.

Part of the problem right now is that it seems that the new members of Congress seem to want a fight. They don't seem interested in compromise at all - and Obama has already made a ton of concessions. Still, the new Tea Partiers applauded when Boehner said a shutdown was likely. Who cares that it will make life harder for their constituents, and hurt an already weakened economy? Win at all costs.

It's a warped mentality the Tea Partiers harbor: who cares if it's a Pyrrhic victory? A victory is still a victory.

And that's why I think they're scum.

The Belgians have been without a government for months, and most say it's not any different than before!

I'm also more than a little concerned about the programs that have been zeroed out in the Republicans' proposed budget. AmeriCorps, NPR, Planned Parenthood. Plus it cuts HeadStart, NIH research funding, and housing vouchers for low income veterans.

Gus wrote: "It's a warped mentality the Tea Partiers harbor: who cares if it's a Pyrrhic victory? A victory is still a victory.

And that's why I think they're scum."

It's not fun if we stop at just one reason they're scum!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S38Vio...

It would mean trash would not be collected in D.C., although parking tickets would also not be written.

"Since federal courts are deemed an essential government function under U.S. law, trials will continue and people can file lawsuits even during a government shutdown."

I'm just worried about three friends who work for the government--two deemed "unessential" who will be off work, and one who will have to work with no pay. :(

why didn't Nancy Pelosi just get a budget through 6 months ago, when she was supposed to and she had control of the house? and Harry had the senate... just asking? can't blame all of this on the Republicans.

I thought the House did approve a budget before the first of the year?

If all of Congress and their "non-essential" aides weren't paid til there was a budget, we wouldn't have this problem. And maybe their health insurance plan should be cut too. They could go looking for individual plans, good luck to them.

The FHA will shut down, meaning housing loans will not come through.

Gregory Wahl, a foreign affairs officer for the State Department, is scheduled to close April 22 on an FHA loan to rehab a house in Silver Spring. But the seller,eager to have the work done quickly, put into the paperwork a penalty clause of $300 a day if the closing happens after that day.

Lori wrote: "If all of Congress and their "non-essential" aides weren't paid til there was a budget, we wouldn't have this problem. And maybe their health insurance plan should be cut too. They could go looking..."

Barbara Boxer introduced a bill in February to prevent lawmakers from being paid in the event of a shutdown. She has repeatedly requested Boehner to act on it. Yesterday he said he agreed with the idea. So maybe it will happen. Although the constitution specifies that members of Congress "shall receive a Compensation", so maybe it won't.

The healthcare is interesting, though. For regular federal employees, will they be able to use their insurance? Go see doctors? I would have to think yes, because healthcare isn't like a biweekly paycheck. And obviously it could be a life or death situation so it wouldn't make a lot of sense to stop it temporarily.

Lobstergirl wrote: "Hmm. If the shutdown happens, will my tax return/refund not get processed?

I suspect there will be a shutdown. It certainly seems like neither side is prepared to blink."

It would definitely be delayed... I read that somewhere.

I'm curious to know if any of you or your workplaces would be directly affected by it.

Sarah Pi wrote: "I'm also more than a little concerned about the programs that have been zeroed out in the Republicans' proposed budget. AmeriCorps, NPR, Planned Parenthood. Plus it cuts HeadStart, NIH research fun..."

Ohhhh, this is seriously NO good. WTH are they thinking?!

Heidi wrote: "Lobstergirl wrote: "Hmm. If the shutdown happens, will my tax return/refund not get processed? "
No delay if you filed electronically. Delay probably if you mail it in.

Heidi wrote: "Sarah Pi wrote: "I'm also more than a little concerned about the programs that have been zeroed out in the Republicans' proposed budget. AmeriCorps, NPR, Planned Parenthood. Plus it cuts HeadStart, NIH research fun..."

Ohhhh, this is seriously NO good. WTH are they thinking?! ..."

They are thinking this is their opportunity to push their weight around and close the programs they don't think should be government funded.
Their "compromise" for yesterday was agreeing to another stop-gap budget only if it were tied to a ban on abortions. So all the Dems have to do is agree to a ban on abortions and the government won't get shut down. Talk about playing politics with peoples' lives.

Exactly. Pisses me off. Bunch of toddlers.

Our work place will not be affected by it Heidi. I do agree that no US senator, US Congressman or President and cabinet should receive a paycheck until the budget is passed. They were elected to run the Government, they obviously haven't done their job.

Barbara Boxer drafted a bill that said that Congress would not get paid during a shutdown, but Boehner has thus far not allowed it to be discussed or voted on.

Heidi wrote: "I'm curious to know if any of you or your workplaces would be directly affected by it."

ms.petra will probably get to work without being paid. :(

*kicks Congress in the 'nads*

It is my understanding that the USPS won't be shut down because it is self-funded.

That's true.

Ahh, thank you both--how did I miss that?


*feels stupid*

Now I do think it will happen, with the TPers playing hardball. And over what? The media is buying into their ploy that it's all about abortion. But doesn't the Hyde Amendment already prohibit federal funds to used for abortion?

The more I think about this shutdown, the more I am white-hot-pissed.

According to my Facebook feed, this appears to be a battle between making sure soldiers have a paycheck and making sure Planned Parenthood is still able to provide cheap, safe healthcare for women throughout the country.

FUCKITY FUCK FUCK FUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FUUUUUUUUUUUUCK!

Heidi wrote: "I'm curious to know if any of you or your workplaces would be directly affected by it."

We will be affected but not directly. My company sells to the government so we won't be making much money.

Sarah Pi wrote, Barbara Boxer drafted a bill that said that Congress would not get paid during a shutdown, but Boehner has thus far not allowed it to be discussed or voted on.

Of course not. How else would that Oompa-Loompa looking human cumstain get his tan on?

Obama goes to Lincoln Memorial to greet his fans, celebrate.

So they pass an extension covering everything until next Friday and have a vote on the actual budget scheduled for Wednesday. Any bets if republicans try to cock block again?

I don't see it, myself. Now that an agreement has been reached, if a segment of dissatisfied Repubs queer the deal, then the entire blame shifts to them.

But if some of the newly elected TPers don't stand against the evil system then they lose face with the nutjobs who voted them in. I hope it doesn't happen, but I wouldn't put it past them. They want it shut down.

If they were going to make that stand they would have made it over the past 48 hours. They had the opportunity.

Hahahaha!!! I just noticed the Rick James avatar & the name - clever and amusing. :)

Welcome to TC Effyocouch.

Effyocouch wrote: "But if some of the newly elected TPers don't stand against the evil system then they lose face with the nutjobs who voted them in. I hope it doesn't happen, but I wouldn't put it past them. They wa..."

Uh...last October when the "newly elected TPers" weren't there and the Dems had the House, they just didn't bother to submit a budget for FY 2011 like they were supposed to. If they had, we wouldn't have had this problem at all.

Signed,

A Nut Job.

Heidi wrote: "Hahahaha!!! I just noticed the Rick James avatar & the name - clever and amusing. :)"

Chapelle's Rick James is my FAVORITE bit of viral internet in the history of viral internet. Ever.

Amelia wrote: "Effyocouch wrote: "But if some of the newly elected TPers don't stand against the evil system then they lose face with the nutjobs who voted them in. I hope it doesn't happen, but I wouldn't put it..."

Agreed. They should have passed a FY 2011 budget when they had the opportunity and yes it would have solved the current budget situation they're faced with. But one group's failure doesn't excuse another's obstruction with the intention of furthering their political objectives. Not to mention at the cost of other people's paychecks and programs they depend on.

And I should clarify, I don't throw the nutjob title only at TPers but at the other end of the spectrum on the left that burn through taxpayer money and are perfectly okay with allowing people to ride the government without accountability. I do apologize for offending if I did. =(