10 Comments
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Deanna Rutherford's avatar

Thanks for your work. I found this article to be extremely helpful as we navigate these uncertain and difficult times. Does anyone actually read the CR? I’ve heard it’s over 1500 pages long ?!

The Capitol Hill Reader's avatar

Thank you for reading!

Jerri Hinojosa's avatar

I suspect changing the law to say that Congress doesn't get paid during shutdowns would alleviate the annual or semi-annual shut down "emergencies". Also, furloughed workers who did not show up for work should not continue to receive back pay after a new budget (or more likely another CR) is signed. Again, if support staff didn't know they could get back pay (ie. a free vacation) every time we have another budget "emergency", I suspect those workers and their unions would have some influence on Congress to focus on negotiating a budget before a shutdown is looming. This is one of Congress' primary functions and they act like middle school procrastinators who try to write their term papers on the bus in the morning of the day it's due.

The Capitol Hill Reader's avatar

As a middle school teacher myself, I can confirm.

Susan Sciarratta's avatar

Thank you for this! Best regards, Susan

Susan Sciarratta's avatar

Also, my husband and I are multiple shutdown survivors (current and former feds)!

The Capitol Hill Reader's avatar

No problem, thanks for the idea! And I’m sorry you guys had to deal with that, must have been so frustrating, waiting for Congress to make a deal, not knowing when it will end.

Fran Fransen's avatar

What about the Social Security Fairness Act? That needs a Senate vote. This week. Or it dissolves into the ether.

The Capitol Hill Reader's avatar

It looks like they are considering the bill today!

The Capitol Hill Reader's avatar

I will look into this, it passed the House a few weeks ago but I have not seen it on the Senate calendar. I may have missed it though.