It is Past the Time to Change the Rules on Government Shutdowns
Government shutdowns, even partial ones, are inexcusable, disruptive to the American way of life, and potentially dangerous to national security if certain departments are defunded during the downtime. Shutdowns are the direct result of Congress, either the House or Senate, or both, not doing their jobs and negotiating a budget before the deadline, when the government is no longer funded and shuts down. When we enter a shutdown period, we always hear the same departments and government employees being asked to continue reporting to work, even though they will not be paid until the shutdown ends. Certain factions of the Department of War, DHS, Air Traffic Control, and TSA are always the first groups forced to feel the effects of the government having checks, but no money in the bank. Social Security, Medicare/Medicaid, and SNAP are rarely impacted. There are always emergency funds available to keep the doors open and the checks flowing in these departments. By the way, how do you feel traveling during a shutdown if the controller in the flight tower is tired, pressured, and now not paid as he watches over dozens of planes in his airspace simultaneously attempting to take off or land? But don’t fret. Ilhan Omar and Sandy Cortez are getting their full pay.
One group that never shares in the pain of a shutdown is the representatives, senators, and their staff. If these legislators and their entire staff were asked to work while their compensation is deferred, shutdowns might never happen. Most of our legislators are in upper tax brackets and could handle a period of deferred payroll. Still, their staffs are not, and they will begin pressuring their bosses to get the budget negotiated and ready for all members on the Hill to sign the proposed budget guidelines, and get the paychecks moving again.
It is unconscionable that any staff worker, enforcement agent, or military personnel have to have their income held up because of the ineptitude of Congress. Congress is becoming a non-entity in our three-tiered governement. They rarely write laws because they cannot debate and negotiate. they divide. We have Presidents who live by the Eexcutive order which is only good for the length of the term. Should a President be superceded by one of the opposing party, the same pen that signed the orders can just as quickly unsign them. While the U.S. Constitution vests all federal legislative power in Congress, hundreds of federal agencies—estimates exceed 400—write regulations with the full force of law, often referred to as administrative law. These executive branch agencies, such as the EPA, FDA, and SEC, are delegated authority by Congress to create specific rules. We have a Supreme Court that is getting more difficult to predict. Some of the rulings of late defy any connection to a particular party, but they also defy logic or an understanding of the Constitution.
Should Congress continue on its current downward trajectory, it may put themselves out of a job. Even the interpretation is becoming more difficult. If some faction of government does not like the tone or foundation of a law, they just need to find a sympathetic judge who will play legislator and hit the law with an hold suspending the law. It is frustrating and so impactful of the people who have lost touch with “the Process’ in D.C. In the meantime, if you want to show a vested interest in keeping our government open for business, then pass a law that would suspend Congressional pay during any stop in the action.
Content syndicated from Conservative View from New Hampshire with permission
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