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How The Government Shutdown Could Shut YOU Down
By
John Del Signore
Published Apr 6, 2011
Modified Apr 6, 2011
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By
John Del Signore
Published Apr 6, 2011
Modified Apr 6, 2011
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With no budget deal in sight, the Obama administration warned today that a federal government shutdown would lead to layoffs of as many as 800,000 federal employees "and hobble agencies that offer help to small businesses and homeowners," the Times reports. Although "top lawmakers" say there has been progress in confidential budget talks today, the speaker of the House, John Boehner, didn't sound constructive. "I like the president personally. We get along well. But the president isn’t leading," Boehner told reporters. “He didn’t lead on last year’s budget, and he clearly isn’t leading on this year’s budget." Well, he can't lead if you don't follow, Boehner. Meanwhile, New Yorkers want to know how this is going to inconvenience us.
The government’s authority to spend money runs out on Friday, and NYC is obviously not immune to the wide-ranging impact of this potential development. Tomorrow, Republicans are expected to introduce a one-week stop-gap measure that would cut $12 billion from federal spending. The bill, which would also fully fund the military for the rest of the year, will be called "the troop funding"; bill, Boehner said today. Democrats oppose it, but how can they defund the troops?! With budget talks stalled, the only other option is a shutdown.
The administration proposed a compromise bill that would cut $33 billion to $40 billion in spending from the original budget proposal for 2011, but during an interview on MSNBC today, Representative Michele Bachmann, Republican of Minnesota, declared on MSNBC today, "I cannot vote for the current compromise that we’re looking at." But she remains magically convinced there will be be a budget deal reached by Friday, while Senator Charles E. Schumer told Politico this morning there is only a "glimmer of hope" of avoiding a government shutdown. Obama is meeting with Boehner, Senator Harry Reid, and Joe Biden at the White House at 8:45 tonight.
If the shutdown happens, federal employees will be furloughed, and the national park system will be closed; that means the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Grant’s Tomb, etc. will be inaccessible. The Daily News reports that "thousands of city-based federal workers who do everything from processing passport applications to maintaining national parks face unpaid furloughs" in the event of a shutdown, toxic waste cleanups would be halted and Superfund workers sent home, visa processing could slow to a glacial pace, and Veterans in need of vocational rehabilitation or counseling would be put on hold. The good news? Our representatives in Congress will still get paid!
But don't worry, the cavalry is riding in: Manhattan Borough President Scott just sent a sternly-worded letter to Boehner warning him of "the serious collateral damage such a shutdown could have on the economy of New York, the financial capital of our nation. During the last federal government shutdown in 1995, it was estimated that most of the 30,000 federal employees in New York City were furloughed. According to the most recent statistics published by the federal government in 2007, there are 53,730 federal employees working in some 150 different agencies in the New York metropolitan region. If history is any guide, a very large percentage of the New York based federal work force can expect to stop collecting their paychecks if a shut down occurs."
Tagged
boehner
budget
obama
shutdown
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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