Quote:
Originally Posted by suzzer99
If someone can define good detailed terms on what "shutting down the government" entails, I'd be willing to make a small friendly wager that a kick the can solution comes in at the last minute to prevent that.
suzzer:
Don't know if this is accurate and correct information, but according to a talking head pundit on MSNBC, the following Government programs (and spending) would be excluded from a Government shutdown. (These debts and obligations would continue to be paid in the event of a Government shutdown.) First, interest on the national debt gets paid. Second, retirees continue to receive their Social Security benefits. (I'm not sure if active duty military personnel continue to get paid.) And finally, drumroll please, members of Congress continue to get paid during any Government shutdown. (If this last exclusion is correct, I suspect that greatly increases the probability of a shutdown.)
So typical of members of Congress ... they pass yet another "law" and conveniently exempt themselves from having to obey what they inflict upon the rest of us. (I wonder if there's a way or a mechanism whereby a citizens group - or even an individual citizen - can file a lawsuit with the United States Supreme Court which would result in a judgment that Congress cannot exempt either themselves (or their staffs) from any law that they inflict upon the rest of us? If such a lawsuit were successful, it might very well result in a lot less of the "too big and too intrusive overbearing Government control" that Republicans constantly bitch and complain about.
Last edited by Alan C. Lawhon; 09-21-2013 at 09:39 PM.
Reason: Minor edit.