With Another Shutdown Looming, Federal Unions Lobbying Lawmakers To Prevent It

With yet another federal government shutdown looming, federal workers’ unions are giving their members advice on how to cope with a sudden halt to their paychecks, lobbying lawmakers to come to their senses and avert the crisis and advocating legislation that would reimburse employees for lost pay if and when the feds return to work. “Having to live with constant threats of a government shutdown every year is extremely demoralizing to the federal workforce and damaging the government’s ability to recruit and retain the best and the brightest,” said AFGE President J. David Cox. Political infighting, specifically within Congress’ ruling Republicans, could leave federal workers on the outside looking in come Oct. 1, and everyone else without vital government functions and services. The immediate source of the problem is that the new fiscal year starts that day and Congress not only has not passed any of the regular money bills to keep the government going, it hasn’t even started work on a so-called “continuing resolution” (CR) that would let agencies limp along at last year’s funding levels until lawmakers provide permanent solutions. “There are just five legislative days remaining before the end of the fiscal year, but the House failed to take any action to keep the government open,” said House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md. “Instead, House Republicans wasted time on legislation attacking women’s health.” 
- Press Associates, Inc. (PAI); photo: October 4, 2013 shutdown demo at the U.S. Capitol; photo by Chris Garlock

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