News for College Kids: Government Shutdown Update

Good evening,

I'm here to give you all the information I have on the government shutdown. The government will shut down if a budget is not passed. Without a budget, there is no way to fund the government and many of its services will stop. The last time this happened was in 1996 under the Clinton administration. This shutdown was led by Newt Gingrich, a current Senator and potential presidential candidate.

Why don't we have a budget?
The fiscal budget for 2011 was supposed to be passed in October, 2010

Harry Reid pulled the budget off the Senate floor, preventing a vote

Why. . .why would he do that?

Left Leaning Opinion:
Harry Reid faced a filibuster from Republicans in the senate that would have stalled other legislation

This would have wasted time in the Senate when other pressing issues needed to be dealt with

Instead of dealing with a filibuster that would have wasted valuable time, he pulled the budget from a vote

Right Leaning Opinion:
Democrats had a majority in the Senate and could have passed the bill anyway

Harry Reid and President Obama failed as leaders to organize their party to vote

What have we been doing without a budget?
Congress has been passing "stop gap resolutions"

These resolutions have funded the government about 1-2 weeks at a time

The U.S. government has basically been given an allowance so it can go out on Friday nights and buy snacks at lunch

Why don't I get my allowance? You guys are the worst parents ever and I hate you. (Why aren't we passing any more resolutions?)

President Obama has promised to veto any new stopgap resolutions

This will force Congress to pass a budget by midnight tonight

At midnight tonight, the last stopgap resolution will stop funding the government

No more money for many government services, except those deemed essential

Papa Obama is putting his foot down

But what am I going to do without a budget!? I totally have stuff to buy and I need my allowance and I still hate you
(What happens if the government shuts down?)

The already fragile economy will take a huge hit and possibly fall into another recession

800,000 Federal workers that are considered nonessential will not receive their pay or they will be furloughed

Essential workers like soldiers and Postal Workers will have to work
Soldiers will get back pay or half a paycheck for the month, postal workers will most likely not be paid

Nonessential military personnel will not be paid

National parks, museums, and monuments will close

Passports and visas will not be processed

Small businesses contracted by the government will not receive their pay

Veterans' benefits and claims will be delayed

Garbage will not be collected in Washington D.C.

Loans for small businesses and homes will be halted

No processing of tax refunds

What isn't affected?

FEDERAL STUDENT AID CONTINUES

Social Security still goes out

Congress men and women will still get paid
(wtf why: the government is bound by the Constitution to pay members of Congress)

Why haven't we passed a budget?

Riders on the bill have split Democrats and Republicans

The riders, if passed, will