Share on MeWe Share on Gab E-mail article

Government shutdown primer: What would and wouldn't happen: in a word NOTHING

THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER REPORTS:

The threat of a government shutdown looms larger every minute. But that doesn't mean the entire government will close its doors if Congress fails to pass a budget bill in time for the new fiscal year that begins Tuesday.

Up to 800,000 federal employees could be furloughed as services deemed "non-essential," such as national parks, passport offices and most regulatory agencies -- including the Environmental Protection Agency and the Securities and Exchange Commission -- are closed.

........"Essential" workers-- such as military personnel,border security officials and air traffic controllers -- would be told to report to work. They wouldn't receive paychecks during the shutdown but would be paid retroactively after Congress passes a government funding bill.

The Bull Elephant and earlier national talk show host Mark Levin reports:

We've had numerous federal shutdowns in Washington. Can anyone remember any of them other than the one in December 1995, when Speaker Newt Gingrich was locked in a battle with Bill Clinton? Here's the list of prior shutdowns:

  • September 30 to October 11, 1976 (10 days)
  • September 30 to October 13, 1977 (12 days)
  • October 31 to November 9, 1977 (8 days)
  • November 30 to December 9, 1977 (8 days)
  • September 30 to October 18, 1978 (18 days
  • September 30 to October 12, 1979 (11 days)
  • November 20 to November 23, 1981 (2 days)
  • September 30 to October 2, 1982 (1 day)
  • December 17 to December 21, 1982 (3 days)
  • November 10 to November 14, 1983 (3 days)
  • September 30 to October 3, 1984 (2 days)
  • October 3 to October 5, 1984 (1 day)
  • October 16 to October 18, 1986 (1 day)
  • December 18 to December 20, 1987 (1 day)
  • October 5 to October 9, 1990 (3 days)
  • November 13 to November 19, 1995 (5 days)
  • December 5, 1995 to January 6, 1996 (21 days)

That's quite a few shutdowns, without any major problems that anyone can recall. It's likely if this looming shutdown happens it will be short lived. Currently the Congress is on a path to pass the continuing resolution this weekend, funding the government through December

http://thebullelephant.com/previous-federal-government-shutdowns-in-washington/

http://washingtonexaminer.com/government-shutdown-primer-what-would-and-wouldnt-happen/article/2536532