We are now into the fourth week of the government shutdown, and the pain is really starting to register for millions.
Many Americans are missing their first paychecks, including essential workers in high-stress roles, such as air traffic controllers.
In addition, when people don’t have money, especially in government-heavy towns, they don’t spend any, and that dramatically impacts local businesses.
Air traffic controllers are considered essential workers, so they are supposed to report to work even amid a government shutdown.
We were already short-staffed on this front, and there have been reports of workers walking off the job or not showing up, creating even more shortages.
As a result, airline travelers in the United States are starting to experience massive delays.
Rep. Troy Nehls (R-TX) stated, "This Democrat-led shutdown is putting an unnecessary strain on our nation’s aviation system, putting more flights at risk for delays or cancellation.”
I have always believed that even during a government shutdown, anyone who is required to report to work should be getting paid, but that has not happened because of posturing in Congress designed to use the continuing resolution (CR) as political leverage.
This is creating even more anxiety for workers who are already in stressful positions, with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stating, "The first day is hard, but the second day is even harder than that. And the third day. Because they have gas, they have childcare costs.”
He continued, "I had one controller tell me, 'My 10-year-old daughter made the traveling volleyball team, and it cost hundreds of dollars. I had to tell her I couldn't pay the money because I don't have a check coming in. I have to put food on the table.’ It's tragic. But here's what's even worse. Democrats aren't voting to open up the government."
The sad reality is that even though their paychecks are not coming, the bills continue to arrive, forcing some of these workers to seek second jobs, or, as we stated above, to just walk out and find employment elsewhere.
In addition to government workers not receiving their checks, the shutdown impacts small business owners who rely on these individuals to patronize their businesses.
A group of business owners just penned a letter to lawmakers, stating, "On behalf of our organizations representing millions of entrepreneurs and small business owners, we are calling on U.S. Senators to put an end to the instability and hardship by passing a clean continuing resolution, which will allow negotiations to continue on spending measures moving through Congress, including the future of the COVID credits that will expire at year-end."
The statement continued, "The viability of thousands of small businesses is at risk due to the shutdown, and it is unacceptable that the livelihoods of owners and their employees are being sacrificed for spending demands that can be resolved through regular order."
The solution is fairly easy, but Democrats are not entertaining the idea right now. Congress simply needs to pass a stand-alone bill to extend Obamacare subsidies for one year, then pass a clean CR, then engage in negotiations for codified subsidies in the future. But as long as Dems want those tax cuts to be made permanent -- right now -- that agreement remains unlikely to happen.
