The longest Government Shutdown comes to a close. Thirty-five day long shutdown is longest in history.
President Trump and Congress are still in a stalemate over the cost of the Wall to protect our borders. For me the wall would mean that the Citizens of the USA could have jobs, that have been taken by illegal immigrants, and benefits that those immigrants have been getting that our countrymen need and have been denied.
This comes just in time for filing of the tax season. President Trump told the American people that those owed refunds will be paid normally without any consequences of delay.
As we flow through life we meet people, fall in love, transpire over obstacles, celebrate moments, fall to our knees in despair and heartbreak. We learn and grow as the events of the world around us continually push us evermore onward through our journey of life until we greet our final destiny (whatever that may be for each person's belief).
Showing posts with label shutdown. Show all posts
Showing posts with label shutdown. Show all posts
Friday, January 25, 2019
Thursday, January 17, 2019
Shutdown of Government is now 27 days
Government shutdown reaches Day 27
There are about 450,000 Government employees who still have not been working as of today. The Trump administration continues to recall tens of thousands of workers after almost four weeks of closed doors at vital agencies.
Private contracting firms, that work with Government agencies, have been without work, and no back pay is guaranteed. Unlike furloughed Federal workers who will receive back pay. 800,000 Federal workers are going without pay during the shutdown.
At the IRS, 36,000 employees were asked to return to deal with tax season, About 1,700 FAA aviation safety inspectors were told to return after the agency ran preliminary safety tests and about 2,500 employees at the Agriculture Department will briefly return to process farm loans.
This month people receiving SNAP benefits (food stamps) will get February's in January some have already received them. Also, for Social Security and Disability the February checks will also be given before the end of January. However, there is no way of knowing how much longer this shutdown will continue and if it does not end by February's end SNAP and Social Security and Disability checks can not be guaranteed for March.
We, the People of this Great Nation known as the United States need Our officials to come to some type of resolution. I for one am for the wall if the money can be found. But we can NOT let our Government hold us hostage and even stop our rights to the very needs we have paid for as we worked, like our Social Security, Disability and benefits to those who actually need help with food and medical on the State level known as Health and Welfare. Many Seniors and Disabled just barely survive even when they get SNAP benefits. I really look around and see that other people who have not put into Social Security and yet they get the benefits, of those who have, at a very high amount. I have always believed that the Social Security we have paid in to while working should be put into an account with our names on them so when we retire, or become disabled at some time before retirement age, we are guaranteed Social Security/Disability benefits without having to jump through hoops and the Government saying "There is no more money in Social Security." Why? Because the Government decided to borrow all of it which now puts us at risk of it not being there when we need it. It is our money we paid in. It was not up for borrowing. This is my biggest pet peeve.
There are about 450,000 Government employees who still have not been working as of today. The Trump administration continues to recall tens of thousands of workers after almost four weeks of closed doors at vital agencies.
Private contracting firms, that work with Government agencies, have been without work, and no back pay is guaranteed. Unlike furloughed Federal workers who will receive back pay. 800,000 Federal workers are going without pay during the shutdown.
At the IRS, 36,000 employees were asked to return to deal with tax season, About 1,700 FAA aviation safety inspectors were told to return after the agency ran preliminary safety tests and about 2,500 employees at the Agriculture Department will briefly return to process farm loans.
This month people receiving SNAP benefits (food stamps) will get February's in January some have already received them. Also, for Social Security and Disability the February checks will also be given before the end of January. However, there is no way of knowing how much longer this shutdown will continue and if it does not end by February's end SNAP and Social Security and Disability checks can not be guaranteed for March.
We, the People of this Great Nation known as the United States need Our officials to come to some type of resolution. I for one am for the wall if the money can be found. But we can NOT let our Government hold us hostage and even stop our rights to the very needs we have paid for as we worked, like our Social Security, Disability and benefits to those who actually need help with food and medical on the State level known as Health and Welfare. Many Seniors and Disabled just barely survive even when they get SNAP benefits. I really look around and see that other people who have not put into Social Security and yet they get the benefits, of those who have, at a very high amount. I have always believed that the Social Security we have paid in to while working should be put into an account with our names on them so when we retire, or become disabled at some time before retirement age, we are guaranteed Social Security/Disability benefits without having to jump through hoops and the Government saying "There is no more money in Social Security." Why? Because the Government decided to borrow all of it which now puts us at risk of it not being there when we need it. It is our money we paid in. It was not up for borrowing. This is my biggest pet peeve.
Saturday, January 12, 2019
Government Shutdown Becomes Longest in U.S. History
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A partial U.S. government shutdown over President Donald Trump's demand for $5.7 billion to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border entered its 22nd day on Saturday, making it the longest shuttering of federal agencies in U.S. history, with no end in sight.
The closure broke a decades-old record set by a 1995-1996 shutdown under former President Bill Clinton that lasted 21 days.
Trump said on Friday he would not declare a national emergency "right now" to end a standoff over border security that has idled about a quarter of the U.S. government. He spoke after lawmakers had adjourned for the weekend, precluding any possible action until next week.
In a tweet on Saturday, Trump took aim again at the Democrats.
"Democrats should come back to Washington and work to end the Shutdown, while at the same time ending the horrible humanitarian crisis at our Southern Border. I am in the White House waiting for you!" he tweeted.
Trump also urged his 57.2 million twitter followers to contact Democratic lawmakers and "Tell them to get it done!"
Democrats in Congress, who call a wall an ineffective, outdated answer to a complex problem, have passed several bills to reopen the government without funding for Trump's barrier. But the legislation has been ignored by the Republican-controlled Senate.
Trump originally pledged Mexico would pay for the wall, which he says is needed to stem the flow of illegal immigrants and drugs. But Mexico has refused.
U.S. government departments including the Treasury, Energy, Commerce and State departments, shut down when funding lapsed on Dec. 22. Funding for other portions of the government, including the Department of Defense and Congress, was approved, allowing them to continue regular operations.
The dispute has disrupted everything from air travel to tax collection and suspended pay for many government workers.
Roughly 800,000 federal workers did not receive paychecks that would have gone out on Friday. Some have resorted to selling their possessions or posting appeals on online fundraising sites to help pay their bills.
Miami International Airport said it will close one of its terminals early over the next several days due to a possible shortage of security screeners, who have been calling in sick at twice the normal rate.
A union that represents thousands of air traffic controllers sued the Federal Aviation Administration on Friday, saying it had violated federal wage law by failing to pay workers. It is at least the third lawsuit filed by unions on behalf of unpaid workers.
The head of the U.S. Secret Service, which is responsible for protecting Trump, has warned employees that financial stress can lead to depression and anxiety. "Keep an eye out for warning signs of trouble," Director R.D. "Tex" Alles wrote in a memo seen by Reuters.
Trump has repeatedly described the situation at the Mexico border as a "humanitarian crisis" as speculation has increased this week that he would circumvent Congress to begin building his signature wall - a move that would be sure to draw a court challenge from Democrats who say the barrier would be barbaric and ineffective.
Instead, the president urged lawmakers to provide him the $5.7 billion he is seeking for border security.
A national emergency would allow Trump to divert money from other projects to pay for the wall, which was a central promise of his 2016 campaign. That, in turn, could prompt him to sign bills that restore funding to agencies that have been affected by the shutdown.
(Reporting by David Brunnstrom and David Morgan in Washington; Additional reporting by Ginger Gibson in Washington; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
The closure broke a decades-old record set by a 1995-1996 shutdown under former President Bill Clinton that lasted 21 days.
Trump said on Friday he would not declare a national emergency "right now" to end a standoff over border security that has idled about a quarter of the U.S. government. He spoke after lawmakers had adjourned for the weekend, precluding any possible action until next week.
In a tweet on Saturday, Trump took aim again at the Democrats.
"Democrats should come back to Washington and work to end the Shutdown, while at the same time ending the horrible humanitarian crisis at our Southern Border. I am in the White House waiting for you!" he tweeted.
Trump also urged his 57.2 million twitter followers to contact Democratic lawmakers and "Tell them to get it done!"
Democrats in Congress, who call a wall an ineffective, outdated answer to a complex problem, have passed several bills to reopen the government without funding for Trump's barrier. But the legislation has been ignored by the Republican-controlled Senate.
Trump originally pledged Mexico would pay for the wall, which he says is needed to stem the flow of illegal immigrants and drugs. But Mexico has refused.
U.S. government departments including the Treasury, Energy, Commerce and State departments, shut down when funding lapsed on Dec. 22. Funding for other portions of the government, including the Department of Defense and Congress, was approved, allowing them to continue regular operations.
The dispute has disrupted everything from air travel to tax collection and suspended pay for many government workers.
Roughly 800,000 federal workers did not receive paychecks that would have gone out on Friday. Some have resorted to selling their possessions or posting appeals on online fundraising sites to help pay their bills.
Miami International Airport said it will close one of its terminals early over the next several days due to a possible shortage of security screeners, who have been calling in sick at twice the normal rate.
A union that represents thousands of air traffic controllers sued the Federal Aviation Administration on Friday, saying it had violated federal wage law by failing to pay workers. It is at least the third lawsuit filed by unions on behalf of unpaid workers.
The head of the U.S. Secret Service, which is responsible for protecting Trump, has warned employees that financial stress can lead to depression and anxiety. "Keep an eye out for warning signs of trouble," Director R.D. "Tex" Alles wrote in a memo seen by Reuters.
Trump has repeatedly described the situation at the Mexico border as a "humanitarian crisis" as speculation has increased this week that he would circumvent Congress to begin building his signature wall - a move that would be sure to draw a court challenge from Democrats who say the barrier would be barbaric and ineffective.
Instead, the president urged lawmakers to provide him the $5.7 billion he is seeking for border security.
A national emergency would allow Trump to divert money from other projects to pay for the wall, which was a central promise of his 2016 campaign. That, in turn, could prompt him to sign bills that restore funding to agencies that have been affected by the shutdown.
(Reporting by David Brunnstrom and David Morgan in Washington; Additional reporting by Ginger Gibson in Washington; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
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