Government Shutdown 2011? — 16 Things You Need To Know

Government Shutdown 2011? — 16 Things You Need To Know - The American Dream
April 8, 2011

Is it actually going to happen? Are we actually going to see “Government Shutdown 2011″?

Will the streets of Washington D.C. soon be eerily quiet as hundreds of thousands of federal workers are temporarily sent home? Right now Barack Obama, Harry Reid and John Boehner all say that they want to reach a deal and avoid a government shutdown, but the deadline is coming up fast. The current spending bill that the government is operating under expires at the end of Friday. If the Republicans and the Democrats do not come to an agreement before then, the U.S. government will “shut down” at 12:01 AM Saturday morning.

The Republicans have proposed a plan to extend government funding for one more week so that negotiations may continue, but the Democrats have rejected it. Obama has summoned Reid and Boehner to the White House tonight in an attempt to hash out a deal, but most observers are not particularly optimistic. Sadly, government debt is going to expand at a mind blowing pace this year no matter who wins this battle.

Both sides are attempting to play political hardball. During the 2010 campaign, the Republicans promised to cut $100 billion from the budget for 2011 and they know that Tea Party activists are going to hold them accountable. The Democrats control the Senate and the presidency and they probably figure that when push comes to shove that many of the new, inexperienced Republicans in the House can be intimidated into giving in.

But in the end it really doesn’t matter that much who wins this battle. The Republicans are proposing $61 billion in budget cuts which would cut the budget deficit for 2011 by only 3.8 percent. The Democrats are proposing $33 billion in budget cuts which would cut the budget deficit for 2011 by just 2.1 percent.

Is that extra 1.7 percent really going to make a massive difference over the long run?

Of course not.

But right now Republicans and Democrats are both in the mood for a fight, so we really might actually see a government shutdown.

If the government does shut down, it probably won’t be for too long. The longest government shutdown of all time ended in early January 1996 and it lasted just 21 days.

So exactly what would happen if there is a government shutdown in 2011? If it does actually happen, the following are 16 things you will need to know….

#1 Hundreds of thousands of “non-essential” federal workers will be told to stay home during a government shutdown.

#2 Those in the military will not receive paychecks during a government shutdown but they will be required to keep performing their duties.

#3 The Obama administration is anticipating “significantly lower staffing levels” at the White House if a shutdown happens.

#4 Barack Obama will continue to be paid during a government shutdown.

#5 Congress will also be paid and will continue to operate at close to normal levels during a government shutdown.

#6 The Federal Reserve will continue to operate normally during a government shutdown. The Federal Reserve is not part of the U.S. government.

#7 In all probability, all government employees will eventually receive any pay that is missed during a government shutdown. During the 5 day U.S. government shutdown back in 1995, approximately 800,000 “non-essential” government employees were told not to come in to work. But eventually they all got paid retroactively anyway.

#8 During a government shutdown, the Department of Homeland Security will suspend operation of its e-Verify system. Employers will be unable to verify the immigration status of job applicants and that could have a substantial negative impact on hiring.

#9 The processing of small business loans and FHA mortgages will be delayed during a government shutdown.

#10 The U.S. Postal Service will not be affected by a government shutdown. You will continue to get your mail.

#11 According to the Social Security Administration, everyone that is currently receiving Social Security benefits will continue to receive those benefits during a shutdown. New applications will be delayed however.

#12 Medicare payments will continue during a government shutdown, but there will be a delay in processing new applications.

#13 During a government shutdown, the processing of paper tax returns by the IRS would be delayed.

#14 If there is a government shutdown, the processing of passport and visa applications could be seriously delayed. This could have a negative impact on the tourism industry.

#15 National parks, museums and tourist attractions will be shut down. According to the Washington Post, “about 500,000 visitors could be turned away this weekend alone from the National Zoo and the major Smithsonian museums on the Mall”.

#16 The annual Cherry Blossom Festival parade in Washington D.C. that is scheduled for this weekend would be cancelled.

So why don’t the two sides just compromise on a figure and get it over with?

Well, it is just not that simple.

Barack Obama is pledging that he will not sign any budget bill that cuts funding for Planned Parenthood and the Environmental Protection Agency.

But to Republicans those are very important things. Many Republicans are sick and tired of large amounts of money going to the Planned Parenthood abortion mills and many Republicans are determined to take away the EPA’s authority to regulate the “greenhouse gases” that many Democrats believe are causing “global warming”.

If the Republicans back down they risk alienating their Tea Party supporters.

And we have already seen what happens to Republican politicians that cross the Tea Party.

The truth is that many Tea Party activists are already upset with the compromises that Republican leaders have been making.

Originally, Republicans had pledged to slash $100 billion from the budget for this year. Then, they said that $61 billion was good enough because a large portion of the fiscal year was already gone.

Now that there are rumors that Boehner may be willing to reduce that figure even further, some Tea Party activists are becoming extremely upset.

Tea Party Nation founder Judson Phillips posted the following message on his organization’s website about a month ago….

“The Tea Party movement should find a candidate to run against John Boehner in 2012 and should set as a goal, to defeat in a primary, the sitting Speaker of the House of Representatives.”

The truth is that this entire controversy shows how divided America is right now.

The Democrat base is simply not going to accept cuts to Planned Parenthood or the EPA.

The Tea Party base is simply not going to accept the small budget cuts that the Democrats are offering.

So who is going to give in?

Whichever party does give in is going to have a lot of explaining to do to their base.

But if neither side gives in we could be in for an extended government shutdown.

It is certainly a fascinating game of “chicken” we have got going on.

It is going to be extremely interesting to see who blinks first.

Personally I think it is going to be Boehner that is going to cave. If he can get the Democrats to agree to a budget cut figure in the neighborhood of 40 to 50 billion dollars I think he is going to grab it and try to “spin” it as a great victory for fiscal conservatives.

Unfortunately, the truth is that no matter who “wins” this current battle government debt is going to continue to soar. The Obama administration is projecting that the deficit for this year will be 1.6 trillion dollars.

Even if we were to cut $100 billion from that number it would barely make a dent.

The U.S. financial system is dying, and nothing that the Republicans or the Democrats are doing right now is going to change that.

SOurces : http://colonel6.com/2011/04/08/government-shutdown-2011-%E2%80%94-16-things-you-need-to-know/

Japan Nuclear Crisis Update: Newly released TEPCO data provides evidence of periodic chain reaction at Fukushima Unit 1 (VIDEO)

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Government Shutdown 2011: How Would It Impact Washington?

Government Shutdown 2011: How Would It Impact Washington? The federal government is hovering on the brink of a shutdown, which has long-range implications for the economy and our national debt. But in the short term, what does a shutdown mean for those of us who live, work, and play in Washington?

Many questions remain about what might actually happen if Congress can’t come up with a budget compromise by the end of Friday, but most essential services will remain in place. Still, we can’t help but wonder what Saturday morning will look like in Washington, the first day when the shutdown would go into effect.

So we’ve compiled a list of what services will certainly continue, what will definitely shut down, and what may not be clear until the last moment:

OPEN DURING THE SHUTDOWN

* Law enforcement: Public safety isn’t in danger, although expect delays in the processing of applications for firearms, alcohol, tobacco, and explosives permits. The FBI, Drug Enforcement Agency, and Border Patrol will all stay open.
* Fire departments: Will all stay open.
* Schools: Public schools will stay open, but the University of the District of Columbia will likely close.
* Air traffic: Air-traffic controllers will remain on the job, and the SA will continue to screen travelers.
* Courts: Federal and DC courts, which are federally funded, but count as “essential,” will stay open. So yes, that means you do have to show up for jury duty.
* Mail: the U.S. Postal Service will continue to deliver mail. And if you plan to file your income taxes by mail, it still must have an April 18 postmark. Some IRS observers have noted, though, that workers might not be in place to send out refunds, according to the Washington Post. Here’s hoping you filed that return already.
* Transportation: Metrorail and Metrobuses will keep running, but a drop in ridership could really hurt revenues for the already-struggling WMATA. Greater Greater Washington predicts that with as much as a 20-percent drop in riders, Metro could lose about $250,000 a day—money it can’t afford to lose. All other regional bus service will continue as well. Amtrak will also continue run.
* Some federal workers: “Essential” federal employees, particularly those involved in the safety of the public and in protecting personal property, will continue to work. In addition, members of Congress, the President, presidential appointees, some legislative branch appointees, and some “excepted” federal employees will still work. House Speaker John Boehner told Good Morning America Thursday that he thinks Congress shouldn’t be paid during the shutdown. And Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) said he’d voluntarily return his pay.
* Social Security: Checks will still be sent out.

* Local businesses: Bars and restaurants will seek to benefit from all those workers with nowhere to go, especially on Capitol Hill. Joe Englert, who owns Capitol Lounge, told the Post that he expects to be inundated with staffers. “They’re not going to roam very far. They’re not going to go home and they’re not going to go to Vail.”

CERTAIN TO CLOSE

* Federal agencies: According to the Congressional Research Service, in the last shutdown in 1995 to 1996, some 284,000 employees were furloughed and another 475,000 worked without pay. President Barack Obama has said that this time, federal workers will not be allowed to work for free. For a little more clarity on a murky question, the Office of Personnel Management has put out a nifty guide.

* DC Public Library: DC's libraries would close, but other regional library systems will most likely stay open. Arlington Public Library is even encouraging federal workers to come to the library next week if they have no place to go.

* DC Department of Motor Vehicles: No in-person road tests, renewal, or registration services.

* Federal museums: Including the Smithsonian museums, the National Archives, the National Zoo, and the National Gallery of Art.
* Federal monuments: Including the Washington Monument and national parks.
* Trash: If you live in the District, you wouldn’t have your trash or recycling picked up next week. But trash removal could resume after a week or so in the interests of public health. Other jurisdictions shouldn't see a disruption in their trash removal.


STILL UP IN THE AIR

* The Cherry Blossom Festival Parade: UPDATE Friday, 10 AM: Festival organizers tell Washingtonian that the parade will go on as planned even if there is a shutdown. More here. The Post is quoting organizers of the popular event who say they’re looking for a backup plan for the 13 marching bands, celebrities, balloons, and other pink fun. The Web site of the National Cherry Blossom Festival says that permits for marching in the parade will not be honored in a shutdown, but at the moment, the parade is still scheduled for Saturday.

* All other federal workers: Many workers are still unclear on just how important their work is considered. John Gage, the president of the American Federation of Government Employees, told National Public Radio that many government employees still don’t know whether their jobs counted as “essential.” “Employees are apparently going to be told to report to work Monday. Then they’ll be released and those who are nonessential, nonexempt will be released and the other ones will be told to stay.” Those who are sent home will reportedly have to turn in their government-issued BlackBerrys, which in this town, could end up being the most traumatic effect of the shutdown of all.

* Parking tickets: Most ticket-writing will be suspended, but tickets will still be issued for dangerous parking situations such as parking in front of a fire hydrant, says a D.C. city administrator.

Sources : http://www.washingtonian.com/blogarticles/19014.html