Much of the federal government could grind to a halt in the coming weeks because Republicans and Democrats in Congress can't agree on spending cuts. Congress itself wouldn't really shut down. As things stand, lawmakers would still get their paychecks and many of their aides would still come to work.
During the shutdowns in 1995 and 1996, debates raged over which people were considered "essential." Lawmakers kept nearly all of their aides working, whether they were involved in budget negotiations or just answering phones. (The latter employees stayed busy -- Congress was deluged with angry calls during the shutdown.) The huge number of "essential" employees on the Hill reportedly irked officials at the White House, which had to work with a skeleton crew. Not everything for Congress members went on as normal though. Senate eateries closed. Senators even had to (gasp!) operate the elevators themselves. But the House gym stayed open.
If the government does shut down in the next few weeks, many government workers will not be able to work and will not get paid. Congress will need to work to pass a budget, should they get paid and get to keep their staff? A bill passed the Senate last week unanimously that approved a measure that would prohibit members of Congress and President Obama from being paid during a shutdown. The bill has yet to come up in the House.
Yeah this is also a dumb idea because there are so many people who have to do their taxes, if they shut down what are they going to do with all the tax money that they have to send out and stuff. I just think that this is stupid. How can the Government just shut down? How is that right? Its not they cant just run away from their problems no one else in the world can so why can they?
ReplyDeleteThis not a good idea if the gov.. closed i think we would have another shut down on the country like no MONEY,no jobs no food this is retarded they should lower the prices on like gas food evrything i think
ReplyDeletei think that the government should stop trying to run away from their problems and start thinking on ways to try and fix them.
ReplyDeleteyea they need to figure stuff out some of the stuff they are worring about should not be top concern right now
ReplyDeletei think that the government cant agree on what to do then they should not get paid. Their just wasting taxpayers money and peoples time.
ReplyDeleteI think the government needs to hurry and decide on there budget cuts. They do not need to solve everything at once. They can slowly fix the budgets, because it would be even worse if the government came to a halt.
ReplyDeleteHopefully the republicans and democrats can reach an agreement because it would not be good if the government shut down. I don't know what to think about congress getting paid and keeping their staff during a shut down. I do though, agree with Jada that they shouldn't just run away from their problems.
ReplyDeleteI think they all need to focus on the budget and get it done. Rather than not being realistic and getting paid for doing basically nothing. I think if they get rolling it would be fine to keep their staff and get it all done and together.
ReplyDeleteI think it's not a good idea for government to shut down but I also think that maybe if they aren't getting paid they will see how rough it is living pay check to check and that will motivate them dumbies to do something about the dumb budget. They should really just buckle down and quit lolligaggin around. Maybe they need their staff members and maybe they don't. I just think that they are dumb and should just come to the dumb agreement and quit being kids about it and arguing about EVERYTHING!
ReplyDeleteI don't think it is a good idea for the government to shut down, both sides just need to compromise to figure things out!
ReplyDeleteI don't think it would be a good thing for the governement to shut down. They just need to compromise and figure things out. If they cant figure stuff out I dont think they should get paid, its a waste of our money.
ReplyDeletei agree with lindsey. the government shutting down would probably cause khaos. not a good idea. they just need to calm down and think and talk things through. we pay these people to make the right choices.. and that is not one of them.
ReplyDeleteThese members of congress need to figure something out. I agree with Jada and Laura that they shouldn't be running away from their problems. They need to figure something out even if they don't 100% agree on everything.I also don't know [like Laura] if congress members and Obama should get paid since lots of them still are techinically working.
ReplyDeleteI don't think our government should shut down, but I do think it's a good thing that they don't get paid for it if they do. They will how a common American has to live. IF they do shut down, they're basically trying to run away from the issues the have to face. They are OUR government, they should just face and deal with the problems they have!
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with Megan! If the government wasn't getting paid, since their not doing anything anyway, then maybe they would know how the rest of us feel and would motivate them to get the stuff done already.! I can't image the craziness that would even go with the government shutting down. It is a good point though that we don't get to just shut down and run away from problems we have so why does the government get to close down because their to dumb to just consider an agreement to fix our budget. This is an important issue to not fall into a depression, so why can't they just come to a solution and get over the little things. Just agree already!
ReplyDeleteThese people should chill and just make the right cuts. It's not like they should rush, its that they need to do nothing but figure this out, because this seems like a pretty huge thing at the moment. They shouldnt be paid during a shut down if they did it would be another dumb thing money is going too. It shouldnt go to people who dont do anything.
ReplyDeleteThey should just come back and deal with their problems and pass the bill. They know it's going to happen so they should just come back and pass the bill.
ReplyDeletethe gov. should hurry up and figure out their s#!) right away
ReplyDeleteThe Government needs to start using their common sense on what they neeed to do to help the economy instead of just seeing the dollar sign on ways for them to advance their own money profit
ReplyDeletei think they should get their sh*t together and see whats good for the people and not the greedyness of theirselves
ReplyDeleteI think that the bill they are trying to pass about the essential people not getting paid durring a shutdown makes total sense, because there is no reason they should get paid for not doing a dang thing
ReplyDelete