Government doors closed, but workers may still get paid

Read this on boston.com

By Andrew Taylor | Associated Press | October 5, 2013

The government has failed to keep the doors open and has told federal workers to stay off the job as the political parties fight over spending and health care in austere times.

Now Congress and President Barack Obama are sending this message to the 800,000 sidelined government employees: We don’t know when the impasses will end but you will get reimbursed for lost pay once the government reopens.

 

With the partial shutdown entering its fifth day, the GOP-run House passed a bill Saturday that would make sure the furloughed workers get paid for not working. The White House backs the bill and the Senate was expected to OK it, too, but the timing was unclear.

 

But even as Congress and the White House rallied around the bill, one outside group said it ‘‘demonstrates the stupidity of the shutdown.’’

Making the shutdown less painful for 800,000 federal employees will encourage Congress and the White House to extend it even longer, driving up the cost, said Steve Ellis of Taxpayers for Common Sense.

 

Ellis said ‘‘essential’’ federal workers who stayed on the job ‘‘will feel like suckers because they've been working while the others essentially are getting paid vacations.’’

The White House has opposed other piecemeal efforts by House Republicans to restore money to some functions of government during the partial shutdown. White House officials have said the House should reopen the entire government and not pick agencies and programs over others.

In the 1995-96 government shutdowns, furloughed workers were retroactively given full pay.

 

Despite the White House’s declared appreciation of the essential the role of federal workers, there appeared no sign of a breakthrough in getting them back to work.

Lawmakers keep replaying the same script on Capitol Hill: House Republicans pass piecemeal bills to reopen popular and politically sensitive programs — on Friday, disaster relief and food aid for the poor — while Democrats insist that the House vote on a straightforward Senate-passed measure to reopen all of government.

My personal view on this is becoming more of observing the arguments and stalemates of our government leaders while sitting back in a bit of fear for my investments not knowing what to do.  I really wish that we as the people too, could compromise more, with more respect to minority views and better communications.  I know that too many people are upset, and irritated with the performance as of late, especially congress.  Playing the blame game really doesn't show any power one political party has over the other to me. 

I am pleased with the idea that those furloughed may get paid, but am also upset that as Ellis said  ‘‘essential’’ federal workers who stayed on the job ‘‘will feel like suckers because they've been working while the others essentially are getting paid vacations.’’  How to we explain that to those who work and those who can't work?