U.S. Government Shutdown

By Owen Brockvescio

Starting at 12:01am October 1st the Federal government shut down. Throughout the past 50 years there have been 22 federal shutdowns. On average lasting between 3 and 4 days. With the longest shutdown in history happening just a few years ago lasting 35 days. TThe current shutdown has lasted 17 days as of October 17th.

So far the senate has voted ten times to stop the shutdown. There needs to be 60 votes in the senate to pass a budget bill and reopen the government. However, with the current lack of bipartisanship from both parties, and a small senate majority for the Republican party, no bill has been able to pass.

Politicians of both political parties have said the other is to blame for the shutdown. Kevin Mullin, Democrat congressman from California said “this is squarely on the Republicans in terms of who is responsible for this shutdown”. John Thune the Republican majority leader of the senate recently said in the senate “Mr.Presidant it’s day 14 of the democrats’ shutdown”. Both people seemingly believe the other party is at fault, and not the government as a collective.

The healthcare debate remains to be the main issue extending the shutdown. Democrats want a reversal on previous healthcare cuts, and an extension on the affordable care act. The Affordable Care Act is set to expire at the end of this year. A year ago in 2024 there were around 21 million Americans enrolled in the Affordable Care Act. If the Affordable Care Act tax credits expire many of those enrolled people will have their insurance premiums double. This is the center issue of the shutdown sparking the most disagreement. The Republicans have said they will talk and negotiate only after the shutdown ends. However, Democrats want these negotiations to be held now.

In 2013 there was a government shutdown that was largely due to negotiations over the Affordable Care Act as well. That shutdown lasted 16 days.

There are roughly 2.4 million federal employees excluding those in the military. Out of those individuals an estimated 750,000 have been furloughed as a result of the shutdown. Meaning they are currently not working and not being paid. Certain federal agencies like the small business administration are pretty much fully closed at the moment. During the shutdown the SBA will no longer accept, process, or give grants and loans. Similarly the USDA has frozen loans and payments to farmers due to losing nearly half their employees to the government shutdown. There is hope if you’re a small business owner as at SUNY Niagara there is a Small Business Development Center that is still open. And as for anyone wondering about lasting effects of the shutdown Maureen Henderson the regional director of the Niagara SBDC is optimistic saying as long as the shutdown doesn’t go on longer than a month or two people and small businesses should be able to recover.