WC Wisconsin News

Wisconsin Rep. Derrick Van Orden has expressed his concerns about the potential government shutdown and the impact it would have on various groups of people. Van Orden emphasized the need to prevent a shutdown for the sake of farmers, military servicemembers, and border patrol agents who would be affected. He also criticized the ongoing political squabbles in Washington, stating that they only benefit politicians while hurting the people they are supposed to serve.

The possibility of a government shutdown has been looming as the current fiscal year is set to end on September 30. If the 12 spending bills required to fund the government are not approved, a shutdown would commence at 12:01 a.m. on October 1st. Disagreements between Democrats and Republicans, particularly regarding spending levels and additional aid to Ukraine, have been at the center of the debate.

To avoid a shutdown, lawmakers are considering a short-term funding extension known as a continuing resolution or CR. This would buy more time for negotiations and prevent a disruption in government operations. However, the delicate balance of power in Congress, with Republicans holding a slim majority in the House and Democrats controlling the Senate, adds to the uncertainty surrounding the situation.

In the event of a shutdown, the federal government would face challenges in paying its 4 million employees, potentially leading to employee furloughs. However, essential functions such as the military and public safety roles would continue, and both President Joe Biden and members of Congress would still be working. It's important to note that programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid would remain unaffected by the shutdown as they are not funded through the spending bills.

The funding allocated to Ukraine has also been a point of contention. The Biden Administration has been criticized for the amounts of aid sent to Ukraine in the past year. The United States has already provided over $111 billion in humanitarian, financial, and military assistance to Ukraine. In July, President Biden requested an additional $24 billion in funding for Ukraine, which would bring the total aid to $135 billion, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

As the deadline approaches, lawmakers are under pressure to reach a resolution and prevent a government shutdown. The impact of a shutdown on various sectors of the economy and the lives of everyday Americans underscores the urgency of finding a solution.