# Government shutdown watch fall 2023 edition **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [September 5, 2023, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-shutdown-watch-fall-2023-edition/989657 "2023-09-05T18:05:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MulderMuffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldermuffin/32/2862_2.png) [@MulderMuffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MulderMuffin)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2023, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-shutdown-watch-fall-2023-edition/989657/1 "2023-09-05T18:05:56Z")
A place to discuss and debate the potential (likely) fight for a budget resolution or a temporary continuation of funding for the US government with a deadline of September 30th, 2023. In the Leopards Eating Faces party there is a firm line in the sand: vote to hold an impeachment inquiry on President Biden or we’ll burn the whole place down. Also, just ignore the budget deal previously negotiated and defund everyone involved in prosecuting trump. Or no deal! > **[Impeachment threats and shutdown fears: Congress returns for a chaotic September](https://news.yahoo.com/impeachment-threats-shutdown-fears-congress-120000721.html)** > > Deadlines this month include preventing a government shutdown, passing a farm bill and reauthorizing the FAA. House Republicans are also weighing an impeachment inquiry. Congress returns this week after a month-long summer recess, facing a potential government shutdown and calls to impeach President Joe Biden. McCarthy could ignore the Crazy Caucus and proceed with a reasonable budget or even a continuing resolution with the backing of Democrats and the rest of the Republicans. Don’t count on McCarthy having any type of backbone in the matter, though. . > But the far-right House Freedom Caucus has [made](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/freedom-caucus-rebels-short-term-funding-bill-new-demands-rcna100993)[it](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/freedom-caucus-rebels-short-term-funding-bill-new-demands-rcna100993)[clear it won’t support](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/freedom-caucus-rebels-short-term-funding-bill-new-demands-rcna100993) a short-term funding bill unless it includes conservative policy provisions that have no realistic chance of passing the Senate. McCarthy could go around them and pass it with Democratic votes, but the right-wing faction has dangled the threat of overthrowing him as speaker if he bucks them. His position as Speaker is much too important to him to risk losing it over something as insignificant as the US economy or the livelihoods of millions of government employess. If he has to kowtow to the deranged ultra MAGA crowd, so be it. > “I’ve already decided: I will not vote to fund the government unless we have passed an impeachment inquiry on Joe Biden,” Greene told constituents in a video she [posted online](https://twitter.com/RepMTG/status/1697397823875018936). > McCarthy also faces [far-right demands](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/centrist-republicans-warn-far-right-tactics-backfire-funding-fight-rcna94252) to include conservative immigration provisions and [slash federal funding for the three prosecutors](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/shutdown-wouldnt-halt-trumps-trials-republicans-seek-rein-prosecutors-rcna102152) who have secured criminal indictments of former President Donald Trump, the front-runner in the polls in the 2024 GOP primary. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2023, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-shutdown-watch-fall-2023-edition/989657/2 "2023-09-05T19:49:41Z")
We’re almost certain headed for a shutdown. The lesson that Republicans have learned from previous shutdowns is that they’re unpopular in the moment, but completely forgotten by the next election. It’s also true that the majority of federal spending and services continue during a shutdown, so Republicans don’t take much political risk from forcing one. Suspend social security checks and confine the navy to port during a shutdown and you’d see a very different calculation. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2023, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-shutdown-watch-fall-2023-edition/989657/3 "2023-09-06T13:20:58Z")
> [@MulderMuffin](#): > > Also, just ignore the budget deal previously negotiated and defund everyone involved in prosecuting trump. [At least one of them also wants to make Trump’s two impeachments go bye-bye](https://www.c-span.org/video/?c5079372/marjorie-taylor-greene-calls-impeaching-president-biden-expunging-trump-impeachments) but that’s from July. Maybe she’s learned to not say that quiet part out loud? ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2023, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-shutdown-watch-fall-2023-edition/989657/4 "2023-09-06T16:58:32Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > Maybe she’s learned to not say that quiet part out loud? Ha Ha Ha Ha! nope > **[Marjorie Taylor Greene Vows to Oppose Fed Funding Bill Unless Biden Is Impeached](https://truthout.org/articles/marjorie-taylor-greene-vows-to-oppose-fed-funding-bill-unless-biden-is-impeached/)** > > New polling shows that a majority of Americans would view a Republican impeachment of Biden as a "political stunt." ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2023, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-shutdown-watch-fall-2023-edition/989657/5 "2023-09-06T17:00:52Z")
Their salaries will of course not be impacted, I’m sure. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Knig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@Typo\_Knig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Knig)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2023, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-shutdown-watch-fall-2023-edition/989657/6 "2023-09-06T17:16:38Z")
Have any of the spending bills been passed by both houses, and signed by POTUS? It looks the the Defense bill is in/going to conference committee, and that none of the others have passed both the House and the Senate. October could be very slow for us federal contractors, and federal employees, and everyone who they support. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2023, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-shutdown-watch-fall-2023-edition/989657/7 "2023-09-06T17:27:42Z")
> [@Typo\_Knig](#): > > Have any of the spending bills been passed by both houses, and signed by POTUS? It looks the the Defense bill is in/going to conference committee, and that none of the others have passed both the House and the Senate. No appropriations bill has passed both chambers. The Defense _Authorization_ Act is in conference, but Defense Appropriations has yet to get a vote in the Senate or House. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Knig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@Typo\_Knig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Knig)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2023, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-shutdown-watch-fall-2023-edition/989657/8 "2023-09-06T18:06:02Z")
> [@flurb](#): > > No appropriations bill has passed both chambers. The Defense _Authorization_ Act is in conference, but Defense Appropriations has yet to get a vote in the Senate or House. Thanks for the info! The whole government could shut down, except for emergency and essential services. A lot of people are going to have a financial hit. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2023, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-shutdown-watch-fall-2023-edition/989657/9 "2023-09-06T19:09:56Z")
> [@MulderMuffin](#): > > “I’ve already decided: I will not vote to fund the government unless we have passed an impeachment inquiry on Joe Biden,” Greene told constituents in a video she [posted online](https://twitter.com/RepMTG/status/1697397823875018936). Impeach him for what? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2023, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-shutdown-watch-fall-2023-edition/989657/10 "2023-09-06T19:11:54Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > Ha Ha Ha Ha! > > nope [I’ve seen that before;](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-marjorie-taylor-greene-must-go/931895/1536) she doesn’t actually mention Trump’s impeachments there. Trump, of course, does and she’s still trying to curry his favor… ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2023, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-shutdown-watch-fall-2023-edition/989657/11 "2023-09-06T19:16:47Z")
Sorry I missed that you were talking about impeachments instead of the criminal charges. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2023, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-shutdown-watch-fall-2023-edition/989657/12 "2023-09-06T19:19:36Z")
'Sokay. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2023, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-shutdown-watch-fall-2023-edition/989657/13 "2023-09-06T19:20:38Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Their salaries will of course not be impacted, I’m sure. Why would they be? They wouldn’t be part of the shutdown. Either that, or it becomes impossible to do anything, as they wouldn’t be able to pass a budget. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2023, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-shutdown-watch-fall-2023-edition/989657/14 "2023-09-06T19:31:13Z")
> [@Typo\_Knig](#): > > Thanks for the info! The whole government could shut down, except for emergency and essential services. A lot of people are going to have a financial hit. The problem (from my perspective) of government shutdowns is that most people _don’t_ take a hit, at least not for a while. Social Security and Medicare are the largest federal programs but they’re on autopilot so seniors don’t see a disruption in their benefits. “Essential” federal workers will be forced to work without pay, but “essential” has been defined so broadly that the services that impact most people’s lives will be uninterrupted (e.g. air traffic controllers and TSA will still report to work, border crossings will be staffed, VA hospitals and clinics will operate, etc.). Sure, those federal workers will be in a bind but they’re a small section of the voting public. The “pain” does grow over time during a shutdown, but Republicans may not feel any real pressure for weeks to change course. > [@That\_Don\_Guy](#): > > Why would they be? They wouldn’t be part of the shutdown. Either that, or it becomes impossible to do anything, as they wouldn’t be able to pass a budget. Members of Congress continue to be paid their salaries during a shutdown because the Constitution requires it. However, their staff are not paid and like other federal employees are either furloughed or required to work without compensation if deemed essential. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Knig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@Typo\_Knig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Knig)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2023, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-shutdown-watch-fall-2023-edition/989657/15 "2023-09-07T00:55:17Z")
> [@flurb](#): > > Members of Congress continue to be paid their salaries during a shutdown because the Constitution requires it. However, their staff are not paid and like other federal employees are either furloughed or required to work without compensation if deemed essential. Direct government employees who worked during past shutdowns have been made whole for their missed salaries, in every shutdown so far. As I recall even direct government employees who did not work got their back pay also. Government contractors have not been compensated, in general. My employer has kept everyone on salary, but most contracting companies do not. Since contractors do a lot of the government’s work these days, this matters. And is where a lot of the economic hit comes from. But it’s a lot subtler than stopping Social Security payments. ---
**Author:** ![MulderMuffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldermuffin/32/2862_2.png) [@MulderMuffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MulderMuffin)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2023, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-shutdown-watch-fall-2023-edition/989657/16 "2023-09-07T01:51:05Z")
Still, having an endless doom loop on the news and in the papers about the shutdown caused by Republicans’ tantrums, and the harm to our economy it is causing, along with slice- of- life interviews with Everyday Americans who are struggling because they are not being paid… none of that will play well with the elusive swing voter or independent. Every tenth of a percentage point matters. Fun side note: I was typing this on my phone using Swype, and “Republicans” came out as “Troublemakers”. Made me snort. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2023, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-shutdown-watch-fall-2023-edition/989657/17 "2023-09-07T01:53:09Z")
> [@ekedolphin](#): > > Impeach him for what? Not being Trump. ---
**Author:** ![MulderMuffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldermuffin/32/2862_2.png) [@MulderMuffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MulderMuffin)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2023, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-shutdown-watch-fall-2023-edition/989657/18 "2023-09-07T01:55:19Z")
> [@ekedolphin](#): > > Impeach him for what? That’s what the _investigation_ is for. There must be _something_! But also, yeah, because he’s not trump. ---
**Author:** ![Petek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/petek/32/1590_2.png) [@Petek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Petek)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2023, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-shutdown-watch-fall-2023-edition/989657/19 "2023-09-07T03:22:08Z")
I was a furloughed US Federal employee several times before 2004 and was always paid for the missed wages. Those measures required acts of Congress. However, in 2019 Congress passed a law (Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019 (Public Law 116-1, January 16, 2019)) making such payments mandatory: > [@](#): > > This bill requires employees of the federal government or a District of Columbia public employer who are furloughed or required to work during a lapse in appropriations beginning on or after December 22, 2018, to be compensated for the period of the lapse. The employees must be compensated on the earliest date possible after the lapse ends, regardless of scheduled pay dates. Employees required to work during the lapse in appropriations may use leave. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2023, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-shutdown-watch-fall-2023-edition/989657/20 "2023-09-07T12:52:40Z")
Fed employee since 86. I’m pretty uch at the point where I say just shut the damned thing down. Let it crash and deal with the (horrendous and avoidable) consequences. Make it clear how far certain fok have strayed from the idea of actualy governing. The continual stopgap measures and kicking various cans down the road just legitimizes their obstructionism. Assume a smaller role on the worldstage, rather than writing continual checks to bolster our desired image of dominance. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-shutdown-watch-fall-2023-edition/989657.md?page=2)