# Government shut down? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 11, 2014, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-shut-down/706982 "2014-12-11T23:45:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2014, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-shut-down/706982/1 "2014-12-11T23:45:43Z")
I can’t make sense out of the news reports today… Is there an impending government shut down again? ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-shut-down/706982/2 "2014-12-12T00:23:47Z")
The current round of appropriations runs out tonight at midnight. If Congress fails to pass a new appropriations bill before that time, there will be no money available to run the federal government. In practice, this means that “non-essential” government functions will be shut down, while “essential” things like the military and FBI will continue to operate on an emergency funding basis. The budget shutdown does not affect entitlement programs like Social Security or Medicare. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-shut-down/706982/3 "2014-12-12T00:24:23Z")
Well, today (December 11) is the deadline for them to spit out a spending bill. As of about 3:00 p.m. EST, the bill they’ve been working on looks like it’s in trouble. Far-right Repubs are objecting for all the usual reasons. BUT – A lot of Dems are objecting too. For different reasons of course. From Talking Points Memo: [Bipartisan Revolt Imperils House Bill To Avert Government Shutdown](http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/house-vote-postponed-spending-bill) > [@](#): > > Republicans long expected some opposition from their right flank due to the fact that the $1.1 trillion spending bill doesn’t block President Barack Obama’s executive actions on immigration. What has thrown the plan into chaos is that numerous House Democrats are defecting over extraneous policy provisions that would weaken derivative trading rules on big banks and loosen campaign finance laws. The bill likely will need significant Democratic support to pass. So, as of 3:00 p.m. EST, looks like it’s still up in the air. ---
**Author:** ![GoodOmens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@GoodOmens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GoodOmens)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-shut-down/706982/4 "2014-12-12T00:25:28Z")
In short, yes. There is a spending bill which needs to pass today or a shutdown could occur. The bill doesn’t look, at the moment, likely to pass by midnight. ---
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-shut-down/706982/5 "2014-12-12T00:50:57Z")
thank for the info, I was on the news websites and some say things like “government shutdown narrowly avoided” and some say there’s an impending shut down, I don’t even know. Sucks because my boyfriend’s business operates out of a national park and he was shut down for 2 weeks last time, what a bunch of BS. Especially coming into Christmas time… ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-shut-down/706982/6 "2014-12-12T03:00:00Z")
As of my date/timestamp in this post, we are two hours away from a government shutdown. There is always a possibility there will be another continuing resolution (CR) for a few days (weeks?) to keep the government running but that’s real iffy. Rank and file from both parties are screaming bloody murder at several areas of the legislation, put the entire bill in doubt. > [@](#): > > **Is there a possibility of a government shutdown?** > “No. There is no possibility of a government shutdown. Remember me? I’m the guy that gets us out of government shutdowns.” (_He laughs_.) Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, [in an interview with Time magazine](http://time.com/3558263/mitch-mcconnell-shutdown-obamacare-majority-leader/) the day after the November 2014 election. Anything more than straight facts is GD territory. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-shut-down/706982/7 "2014-12-12T03:05:15Z")
The House has passed the spending bill 219-206. It’s up to the Senate to avert a shutdown now. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-shut-down/706982/8 "2014-12-12T03:06:26Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > The House has passed the spending bill 219-206. It’s up to the Senate to avert a shutdown now. It’s only a two-day extension. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-shut-down/706982/9 "2014-12-12T03:13:25Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > It’s only a two-day extension. No, the bill passed by the House is a full appropriations bill through September 2015. The Senate has agreed to a two-day continuing resolution while it considers the House bill. So no shutdown tonight. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-shut-down/706982/10 "2014-12-12T03:42:43Z")
Government shutdowns don’t mean much in practical terms. We have been through it a number of times before and they only mean that some non-essential services will be shut down. I don’t support them in general as a bargaining tactic but the average person will notice absolutely nothing even if it lasts for weeks. We have a two day extension now but it isn’t like we are going to have rioting and anarchy even if negotiations fail after that. That is one of the good features of a Federal system. The decentralized Federal government doesn’t control that many things that affect daily life for people in the U.S. and the important functions are barely affected at all. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-shut-down/706982/11 "2014-12-12T03:46:50Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > Government shutdowns don’t mean much in practical terms. We have been through it a number of times before and they only mean that some non-essential services will be shut down. I don’t support them in general as a bargaining tactic but the average person will notice absolutely nothing even if it lasts for weeks. Nonetheless, they’re not popular. The nation’s opinion of Congress during the last shutdown was at an all-time low. You’d think they’d learn their lesson. ---
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-shut-down/706982/12 "2014-12-12T03:58:42Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > Government shutdowns don’t mean much in practical terms. We have been through it a number of times before and they only mean that some non-essential services will be shut down. I don’t support them in general as a bargaining tactic but the average person will notice absolutely nothing even if it lasts for weeks. We have a two day extension now but it isn’t like we are going to have rioting and anarchy even if negotiations fail after that. That is one of the good features of a Federal system. The decentralized Federal government doesn’t control that many things that affect daily life for people in the U.S. and the important functions are barely affected at all. I get that but it effects us in a huge way- my boyfriend operates tours out of a national park so a shutdown means a huge loss of income, especially at high season (Christmas holidays- think our “black Friday” for the year). It is also a huge deal for my other friends who work in the National Park (lots) so we’re hoping they get their shit together and there isn’t a repeat. At least last time it wasn’t during peak tourist season (we’re in south FL and I’m talking about Everglades National Park) ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-shut-down/706982/13 "2014-12-12T05:19:18Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > Government shutdowns don’t mean much in practical terms. We have been through it a number of times before and they only mean that some non-essential services will be shut down. I don’t support them in general as a bargaining tactic but the average person will notice absolutely nothing even if it lasts for weeks. We have a two day extension now but it isn’t like we are going to have rioting and anarchy even if negotiations fail after that. That is one of the good features of a Federal system. The decentralized Federal government doesn’t control that many things that affect daily life for people in the U.S. and the important functions are barely affected at all. Some things affect quite a lot of people, actually. I know someone who was stuck overseas for a time because the passport office was closed for weeks during a shutdown. Actually, that’s my main concern: I need to renew my son’s passport soon. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-shut-down/706982/14 "2014-12-12T12:54:50Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > Government shutdowns don’t mean much in practical terms. We have been through it a number of times before and they only mean that some non-essential services will be shut down. I don’t support them in general as a bargaining tactic but the average person will notice absolutely nothing even if it lasts for weeks. You’re right that the average person won’t be sorely inconvenienced, but the consequences are not evenly distributed. As noted, some business owners lose their revenue stream, and people who need certain government services in a timely manner can also have serious problems. And then there are the federal employees who are living on a tight budget. They get paid in full when it’s all over, but during last year’s shutdown one paycheck was delayed; anyone who was counting on that check to pay bills on time had a very rough month. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-shut-down/706982/15 "2014-12-12T13:36:58Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > Government shutdowns don’t mean much in practical terms. We have been through it a number of times before and they only mean that some non-essential services will be shut down. I think that you, and most people, forgot last October when this happened and for a day or so a lot of air traffic was severely hampered. It only lasted a bit because there were a lot of flights delayed and canceled and when congress saw they might not have an easy time of getting home they changed and had the air traffic people go back to work. The FAA had a lot of people go from non-essential to essential during that time. I think a lot of people don’t notice those kinds of things because it doesn’t impact their lives right away. Had the controllers and the like not gone back to work so fast I think there would have been a lot more pissed off people. ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-shut-down/706982/16 "2014-12-12T20:49:54Z")
> [@Edward\_The\_Head](#): > > I think that you, and most people, forgot last October when this happened and for a day or so a lot of air traffic was severely hampered. It only lasted a bit because there were a lot of flights delayed and canceled and when congress saw they might not have an easy time of getting home they changed and had the air traffic people go back to work. The FAA had a lot of people go from non-essential to essential during that time. Obviously no worry about that this time with all the Congresscritters wanting to get home for the holidays. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-shut-down/706982/17 "2014-12-12T20:55:03Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > Government shutdowns don’t mean much in practical terms. We have been through it a number of times before and they only mean that some non-essential services will be shut down. I don’t support them in general as a bargaining tactic but the average person will notice absolutely nothing even if it lasts for weeks. We have a two day extension now but it isn’t like we are going to have rioting and anarchy even if negotiations fail after that. That is one of the good features of a Federal system. The decentralized Federal government doesn’t control that many things that affect daily life for people in the U.S. and the important functions are barely affected at all. I took me like 3 times as long to get a coffee at Starbucks.(I live in DC). ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-shut-down/706982/18 "2014-12-12T22:14:41Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > Government shutdowns don’t mean much in practical terms. It’s a big deal if you live in a town/city dominated by government facilities and contractors. In our case (Huntsville AL, home of the US Army Redstone Arsenal and the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center), about 12,000 defense workers and 2000 NASA workers were idle during the last shutdown. They were ordered not to come to work and did not know when their next paycheck will come. In a city with a population of 180,000 (436,000 for the metro area), that’s a significant chunk of the local economy. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-shut-down/706982/19 "2014-12-13T19:52:35Z")
Saturday December 13, 2014: Not so fast, folks! Maybe we’re still gonna shut down. Spending bill blocked in Senate by (wait for it . . . ) Ted Cruz and Mike Lee (with, tangentially, a little resistance from Elizabeth Warren too). [Bill Funding U.S. Government Thwarted by Late-Night Challenge From Ted Cruz](http://finance.yahoo.com/news/bill-funding-u-government-thwarted-174442096.html). In related news, Elizabeth Warren gives a fiery speech in the Senate. [The Speech That Could Make Elizabeth Warren the Next President of the United States](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/miles-mogulescu/the-speech-that-could-make-elizabeth-warren-president_b_6319142.html?ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000592) (says HuffPo). ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-shut-down/706982/20 "2014-12-13T23:03:42Z")
[Government funded only thru Wednesday](http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/13/politics/senate-spending-bill/index.html?hpt=hp_t1). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-shut-down/706982.md?page=2)